§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what further deliberations have taken place on the subject of the United Kingdom ratifying the European charter on minority languages; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodGovernment Departments with an interest in the European charter for regional or minority languages have been considering its implications for the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom decision on ratification must take into account the situation of each of the indigenous minority languages spoken within the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to a ratification of the European charter on minority languages with a derogation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodArticle 21 of the European charter for regional or minority languages states that reservations to the charter may be made only to one or more of paragraphs 2 to 5 of article 7. The United Kingdom Government will announce their response to the charter in due course.