By Mark Isherwood

MS for North Wales

I am delighted that my much-needed British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill is moving forward after a vote in the Senedd, despite the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Lesley Griffiths MS, stating she does not think the Bill is needed, which would leave Wales as the only part of the UK without specific BSL legislation.

The Bill’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in Wales; improve access to education, health and public services in BSL; and support the removal of barriers that exist for deaf people and their families in education, health, public services, support services and in the workplace; applying early intervention and prevention measures to reduce cost pressures on statutory services further up the line.

I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to respond to the End Youth Homelessness Cymru report, 'Youth Homelessness Through the Lens of Neurodiversity', which states: 'Too often we overlook young people who have a mix of adversity and neurodiversity in their lives'.

The report recommends that ‘Local Authorities should work with and support local neurodiversity-specific organisations’, with funding made available, and states: 'Prevention is always more effective than having to deal with a multitude of individual problems which arise further down a young person’s path’.

Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, I emphasised that the Curlew is facing extinction as a breeding population in Wales within a decade without intervention, and asked him to respond to the letter sent to him by conservation charity Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, which concludes, 'We know that farmers are interested in improving the amount of wildlife on their farms, but we believe it must be done in conjunction with running a financially sustainable farming business and deliver multiple benefits”.

Engagements included Tenovus Summer Tea in the Senedd with the All-Wales Cancer Community; meeting charity ‘Tai Pawb’ to discuss the housing emergency in Wales and the ‘Back the Bill’ campaign to incorporate the right to adequate housing into law in Wales; a pre-meeting ahead of the next Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister session, which will be Rural Communities themed; and the Civic Service of Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Beryl Blackmore, at St Giles Parish Church.

For my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.