Find the BSL edition of a Scottish Parliament recording

Match both the event and its date

The official archive exposes keyword, start-date and end-date fields alongside chamber and committee categories. Several chamber categories have BSL variants. Begin with the event date and type, then check the complete title of each result instead of relying on a familiar politician’s image or a generic debate label.

For an illustrative search, a viewer who remembers a Thursday question session should record that date and the question-session type before selecting its BSL counterpart. If the result is from a different week, the availability of interpretation does not make it the correct event. Keep both identity and accessibility requirements in the search note.

Do not substitute another accessibility format silently

A BSL edition, subtitles and a written parliamentary record meet different needs. The presence of one should not be used as proof that another is available on the same item. Open the actual listing and confirm the label before sharing the programme with a viewer who requested a particular format.

If the expected edition is missing, retain the general event address and date for an accessibility enquiry. Explain which format is needed and whether you found a differently labelled version. This is more useful than reporting all video as inaccessible without identifying the event or assuming that an unlabelled recording necessarily contains interpretation.

Keep a shareable event record

Save the selected edition’s own address and exact title. A link to the archive homepage makes the recipient repeat the search and can send them to a later event after the catalogue updates. Add a time position if the purpose is to discuss one contribution, while retaining the full event context.

If the recording has multiple parts, inspect the part number before deciding that a later contribution is absent. A different part may have its own edition and address, so inspect each selected record. Report any missing or mismatched format against the precise event page so that it can be checked.

Questions about this guide

Does a normal event listing prove a BSL edition is unavailable?

No. Search the archive’s BSL-labelled categories and exact date, then check the matching listing.