We provide the secretariat to the cross party group on deafness (CPGD). The Convenor is Jenny Marra MSP.

The CPGD was formally established in October 2000.

Meetings Diary 2012

14th March at 5.15pm - in Committee Room 1
13th June at 5.15pm - TBA

• Comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for deaf and deafblind people
  
• The removal of barriers in policy, laws and practice to deaf people's equality and participation
  
• The establishment of appropriate services for deaf people, based on the concept of civil rights and equality
  
• The creation of opportunities for deaf people to participate in all aspects of life and to exercise their civic responsibilities, as well as their civil rights
  

Activities

• To influence policy, across the Scottish Government's departments, that has an impact on deaf and deafblind people, their families and carers
  
• To represent the interests of deaf and deafblind people to the Scottish Parliament through meetings and correspondence with ministers and key officials To inform its own members and the wider membership of the Scottish Parliament about the issues that are relevant to deaf and deafblind people
  
• To meet regularly with organisations of and for deaf and deafblind people to hear at first hand the issues and policies of concern to them
  
• To provide, for deaf and deafblind people, the opportunity to have direct contact with Members of Scottish Parliament
  
• To monitor all new legislation to ensure that it is not against the interests of deaf and deafblind people
  
• To support change to existing legislation that discriminates against deaf and deafblind people
• To support increased access for deaf and deafblind people, as Members, staff and the visiting public to the premises, processes and facilities of Scottish Parliament