Indigenous Minority Languages (Hansard, 8 June 1998)

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Her Majesty's Government have given thorough consideration to the merits of the United Kingdom becoming a signatory of the charter, which entered into force on 1 March 1998. We have concluded that it would be appropriate to do so. Part II of the charter sets out general principles of recognition and support for indigenous minority languages and removal of discrimination against them. We readily subscribe to these principles. We also intend to specify the Welsh language in Wales and, when the necessary procedural arrangements are in place, the Gaelic language in Scotland under the provisions of Part III, which require adherence to a number of specific measures taken to promote the use of these languages in public life. It is also intended to specify the Irish language in Northern Ireland at at early date. Part II of the charter will apply to the Scots language. We will be considering which, if any, other languages should be bound by the general principles in Part II and might be specified under Part III in due course.