1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of its work programme to a future meeting.

2. British Sign Language Inquiry:

The Committee took evidence from—

Alana Harper, Chief Executive Officer, Deaf Links;

Avril Hepner, BSL Scotland Manager, British Deaf Association Scotland;

Dr Hannah Tweed, Scottish Sensory Hub Manager, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE);

and then from—

Lucy Clark, deaf domestic abuse researcher, advocate and trainer;

Professor Jemina Napier, Chair of Intercultural Communication, Heriot-Watt University;

Rachel O'Neill, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh.

Maggie Chapman declared an interest as Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Council for Visual Impairment (SCOVI) until April 2019.

3. Work programme:

As previously agreed under agenda item 1, the Committee deferred consideration of its work programme to a future meeting.

4. British Sign Language Inquiry (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 2.