§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the Belfast Agreement, which promised equality between Irish and Ulster Scots, whether the Linguistic Diversity Branch of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has been involved with other departments in the implementation of policy concerning language. [HL559]
§ Lord Williams of MostynLinguistic Diversity Branch is an administrative unit of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). DCAL chairs an interdepartmental group on the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. DCAL is represented on the Promoting Social Inclusion (PSI) Working Group on Race Equality where it advises on matters relating to the languages of the minority ethnic communities in Northern Ireland. In addition, DCAL advises the PSI Working Group on Disability in relation to British and Irish sign language. DCAL contributes as appropriate to consultation exercises generated by NICS and other departments.