Campaign for signed news bulletins.VALE of Clwyd AM Ann Jones has tabled a statement of opinion urging all Assembly Members to sign up in protest of ITV Wales' decision to cut British Sign Language British Sign Language (BSL) is the sign language used in the United Kingdom (UK), and is the first or preferred language of an unknown number of Deaf people in the UK (published estimates range from 70,000 to 250,000 but it is likely that the lower figures are more broadcasts on ITV's Wales Tonight. ITV Wales intend to get rid of the BSL (language) BSL - A variant of IBM's PL/S systems language. Versions: BSL1, BSL2. interpretation service on the evening news slot from today. Although subtitles have been promised, the deaf community in Wales is angry that they will no longer receive broadcasts in sign language. Chair of the All Party Group on Deaf Issue, Ann Jones AM said: "I am extremely disappointed at ITV Wales' decision and will do all that I can to help reverse it. The Welsh Assembly Government The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) (Welsh: Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, LlCC) was firstly an executive body of the National Assembly for Wales, consisting of the First Minister and his Cabinet from 1999 to 2007. has officially recognised BSL a language in its own right and it deserves to be treated with the same respect as Welsh. "Quite frankly BSL services in Wales are not up to scratch as it is and this move by ITV will only serve to make things worse. I hope the channel will reconsider its position and acknowledge its duty to those viewers who are deaf and hard of hearing." RNID Cymru Director Richard Williams said: "ITV Wales is depriving BSL users in Wales the right to access news and information in their first language and isolating them from their communities and essential day-to-day information. "We are also calling on Ofcom to step in to protect the interests of BSL users in Wales." |
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