§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the differences between(a) notification, (b) acceptance and (c) approval of the European charter for regional or minority languages.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesArticle 18 of the European charter for regional or minority languages provides that the charter will be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the member states of the Council of Europe and that such instruments are to be deposited with the secretary general of the Council of Europe.
Ratification, acceptance and approval are all ways in which a state indicates its consent to be bound by the treaty. They all have the same effect. Which method a state uses may reflect its domestic practice. But each method requires an instrument to be sent to the depositary specifying whether the state is ratifying, accepting or approving the charter.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which languages in the United Kingdom the Government are considering specifying under article 3 of the European charter for regional or minority languages.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesWe are still considering whether to sign the charter. That consideration is on the basis that it would apply to Welsh, Gaelic and Irish.