European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages

HC Deb 18 July 1995 vol 263 cc1202-3W

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date the Welsh Office first considered whether to sign the European charter for regional and minority languages; what meetings have taken place between Welsh Office Ministers and(a) representatives of the European Union, (b) members of the Welsh Language Board and (c) other interested parties on the matter since the Government first considered the issue; and if he will make a statement on Government policy on this matter. [35626]

Mr. Richards

The charter was opened for signature in November 1992, and the Government have had the matter under consideration since that time. The question of signature is not one for the Welsh Office to consider independent of other Government Departments, since any signature by the Government would be for the United Kingdom as a whole.

Welsh Office Ministers have had no meetings with representatives of the European Union on this matter. The charter is a product of the Council of Europe rather than of the European Union. Officials have discussed the charter with officials of the Welsh Language Board on a number of occasions since the board was established in 1993.