As a member of the House of Lords for over ten years, I have been proud to contribute to hundreds of debates. There are two debates, however, that I am particularly proud to have been involved with. They are the British Sign Language Bill Debate on 25 March 2022 and the Bus Services Bill Debate on 2 April 2025. What these two debates had in common was that they were different examples of making parliamentary proceedings accessible to everyone, including those with sensory impairments.
British Sign Language Bill Debate
On 25 March 2022, I was delighted to witness the House of Lords make history by providing live British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation for the first time during the debate on the British Sign Language Bill. This was a monumental step towards inclusivity. The Bill aimed to recognize BSL as a language of England, Scotland, and Wales, ensuring that BSL users could access public services without barriers. This initiative was a significant move towards making our proceedings more accessible to the signing community.
Bus Services Bill Debate
Another proud moment came during the debate on the Bus Services Bill on 2 April 2025. Several members of the Lords announced their names and affiliations before speaking, benefiting visually impaired visitors in the gallery. I explained the rationale behind this initiative:
“My Lords, it may be convenient if I inform the House that we have a number of sight-impaired visitors with us in the Gallery. To increase the inclusivity of their experience, it may be convenient for noble Lords to identify themselves when they speak. To that end, I am Lord Holmes, a Conservative. As with all moves of an inclusive nature, everybody benefits. I am sure that a number of Members are now going, ‘Ah, so that’s Lord Holmes'”
Following speakers included Baroness Jones who said, “My Lords, I support those two amendments. For the benefit of those with sight impairments, my name is Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb and I am from the Green Party —yay” and Lord Shinkwin, “For the benefit of our visitors, I should explain that I am Lord Shinkwin and I have a disability.”
This simple yet effective measure ensured that visually impaired visitors could follow the proceedings more easily, enhancing their overall experience.
What Next for Greater Inclusion?
Looking ahead, we must continue to strive for greater inclusion in the House of Lords. Accessibility in democratic processes, such as parliamentary debates, is vital for several reasons:
- Inclusivity: Ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their sensory impairments, can participate in and understand parliamentary proceedings is fundamental to a truly inclusive democracy.
- Transparency: Making debates accessible helps in maintaining transparency, allowing all citizens to stay informed about legislative processes and decisions that affect their lives.
- Empowerment: Accessibility empowers individuals with disabilities by providing them with the information and means to engage in political discourse and advocacy.
- Equality: It upholds the principle of equality, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
Greater Inclusion through Technological Innovation
As the digital age continues to evolve it is the job, of all of us, to think about how we embed our human values. And how we use these incredible new tools at our disposal to do just that. I have written before about Citizens’ Assemblies. These assemblies bring together a representative group of people to deliberate on important issues, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. By incorporating Citizens’ Assemblies into our democratic processes, we can ensure that our legislative decisions are more reflective of the public’s needs and concerns. By making the business of the House of Lords accessible to all, we not only uphold the values of democracy but also enrich the legislative process with diverse perspectives and voices.