Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to provide (a) information on its services in British Sign Language (BSL) and (b) correspondence in BSL to people whose principal language is BSL.

The Department publishes information on its services on GOV.UK. This content meets legal accessibility requirements and can be read by assistive technology.

Documents published by the department can be requested in an alternative format in line with the Equalities Act 2010, this includes British Sign Language.

The Department can also engage with correspondence from individuals using British Sign Language if that is the preferred format.

The Department is committed to ensuring young people who use British Sign Language gain the skills they need. In January 2017, we announced that for the first time, British Sign Language will be accepted as an alternative qualification to functional skills in English for apprentices where BSL is their first language.