 A BSL User's Guide What can BSL users expect from the Scottish Parliament? The Scottish Parliament wants to make sure that everyone in Scotland can become involved in its work, whichever language they use. Here is more information about what the Scottish Parliament can offer to Deaf and DeafBlind BSL users who want to visit, learn more or get involved. First Minister's Questions We provide BSL interpreting of First Minister's Questions, FMQs. FMQs are a weekly opportunity, normally at noon on Thursdays, for members of the Scottish Parliament to ask the First Minister questions. You can watch FMQs with BSL interpreting live on screens in the public gallery. You can also watch live or as an archived video on scotishparliament.tv. Finding out more We have information resources on our website in BSL on a range of topics including members of the Scottish Parliament, MSPs, committees, how laws are made. We regularly post BSL e-bulletin videos with updates about parliamentary business, resources and events on the Scottish Parliament BSL Facebook group. Visiting A BSL video on our website gives information on what to expect when you arrive at the Scottish Parliament. We have information in BSL in our exhibition in the main hall of the Scottish Parliament and in other public areas of the building. An interactive BSL map is available to help you get the most from your visit to the building. BSL interpreting If you give us notice, we can arrange for a BSL interpreter to be available for your visit to the Parliament. This includes arranging hands-on interpreting for deafblind BSL users. We can provide BSL interpreting if you need it to attend Scottish Parliament business, for example chamber debates or committee meetings, selected events, for example at the Festival of Politics or our free guided tours of the Scottish Parliament. BSL interpreting is provided subject to interpreter availability. Requests should be made as far in advance as possible. Normally, at least two weeks notice is needed. The Scottish Parliament does not charge members of the public for BSL interpreting. However, we may need to pay a cancellation fee, so please let us know as soon as possible if you have to cancel your booking. If you would like us to arrange BSL interpreting, email bsl at parliament.scot or call 0800 092 75 00. Getting involved You can give your views to a committee inquiry in writing or in BSL video. You can also submit a petition as a BSL video. If you send a video, we will arrange for a translation and pay for this. You can send a video through a file transfer service, such as WeTransfer. If you are invited to give your views in person at a committee meeting, we can arrange BSL interpreting. Tell the committee clerks if you will need this. We will also normally film the BSL interpreting and post the archive video on our website. If you wish advice on petitioning the parliament, you can email petitions at parliament.scot or call 0131 348 5254. You can also raise issues of concern with one of your eight MSPs. You can find out who your MSPs are at parliament.scot forward slash MSPs. You can contact any office within the Scottish Parliament and any of your MSPs in BSL through contact Scotland BSL. The Scottish Parliament's British Sign Language Plan, 2018 to 2024. The Scottish Parliament has published a British Sign Language Plan, which is available on our website in BSL. Our British Sign Language Plan sets out the actions that the Parliament intends to take by 2024 to improve access to parliamentary information and services for BSL users in the deaf and deafblind communities. We have a BSL development officer whose role includes developing our BSL plan. Contact information. You're welcome to contact us. If you would like to ask a question or give feedback on any aspect of our BSL provision, you can contact us in the following ways. By phone through contactscotlandbsl contactscotland-bsl.org You can call the Scottish Parliament switchboard on 0800 092 750 by email bslatparliament.scot By post BSL Development Officer The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH991SP By text 07786 209888 Through the live chat button on our website parliament.scot forward slash live-chat By posting on the Scottish Parliament BSL Facebook Group parliament.scot forward slash BSL Facebook Group