To ask the Minister for Communities to detail when he intends to begin consultation with the Deaf community, in order to develop guidance for public bodies in line with the provisions of the Sign Language Bill (NIA 10/22-27), which is soon to become an Act

Consultation with the Deaf community is ongoing, a draft of best practice guidance prepared by the British Deaf Association and other Deaf representatives is currently under consideration, and this matter will be addressed at the next meeting of the Sign Language Partnership Group (SLPG). The SLPG is a cross-departmental forum with representatives from the Deaf community, chaired by my Department which works to improve access to information and services for the Deaf community.