§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 July (WA 76) concerning languages used at Laganside Courts in Belfast, why they consider that English, Irish and Cantonese are languages which court users are likely to want to use. [HL5663]
§ The Lord ChancellorEnglish, Irish and Cantonese were selected for use in the talking information signs at Laganside Courts on the basis of anticipated demand by court users for this facility.
English is the first language used in Northern Ireland. The 1991 Census figures indicate that approximately 10 per cent of the population in Northern Ireland speak Irish. Information provided by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure suggests that the Chinese community in Northern Ireland is the next largest ethnic group likely to require this facility.