§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Linguistic Diversity Branch of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has offered guidance to the BBC in Northern Ireland on how, as a public service broadcaster, it might meet the obligations of the Council of Europe Charter for Regional and Minority Languages in relation to the Ulster-Scots language. [100441]
§ Angela SmithThe European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages does not place specific obligations on public service broadcasters in relation to the Ulster-Scots language. Linguistic Diversity Branch has however engaged with the BBC in meetings at both production and managerial level aimed at encouraging increased awareness of the Ulster-Scots language and culture and UK Government commitments in relation to linguistic diversity.