Last week, seemingly without consultation or notice, BBC Northern Ireland announced that it was immediately withdrawing the provision of sign language from its televised lunchtime bulletins. I find that to be a thoroughly depressing move from the BBC that will cause an even greater sense of isolation among the deaf community in Northern Ireland.

Over the past few years, I have had cause to engage at length with many deaf people in the community and, indeed, at family gatherings. I have to say that I had very much underestimated how disadvantaged that group is in society. It caused me to raise questions in this place about how we, as elected Members, interact with the deaf community here and in our constituency offices. I was pleased, therefore, to hear my friend the Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, announce plans for a sign language Bill and more interpreters for the deaf in Northern Ireland.

There is perhaps no organisation as vocal in its cry for equality and representation of minority groups as the BBC, and yet, to suit its internal agenda, it removes a much-loved and much-needed service from viewers, who are told to go online instead. That is hardly an example of care in the community, is it? I will write to the BBC on behalf of those constituents, and I encourage other Members to do likewise. We really cannot let such a decision by a publicly funded body go unchallenged.