§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to collect information on the level and location of spoken indigenous languages in the next census; and if he will make a statement. [10551]
§ Mrs. Angela Knight[holding answer 23 January 1997]: A major census test will be conducted in selected areas of England and Scotland in June this year. Test questionnaires to be used in Scotland will include a question asking if the respondent can speak, read, write or understand Gaelic but this question will not be asked in England. Following consultation and research, the Government have concluded that a question on Scots could not be justified for inclusion in the next census and therefore will not be included in the June test. For the 2001 census, we expect to ask questions about Welsh in Wales and Gaelic in Scotland. There are no plans to extend questions on Scottish Gaelic, and the Welsh language outside the respective countries. The Government will publish their proposals for questions to be included in the census in a White Paper in mid-1998. The White Paper will invite comment.