HL Deb 20 March 2003 vol 646 c39WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to bring the Ulster Scots language to stage three status of the Council of Europe's Charter for Minority Languages; and, if so, what is the timetable. [HL2075]

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

The Government have no specific plans in place at this time. However, achievement of Part III status was identified as a major project at the Ulster Scots Future Search Conference on 28–30 November 2002. Officials from the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure are engaged in discussions with representatives from the Ulster Scots community to agree how this should be progressed.

The achievement of Part III status of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages requires that a minimum of 35 out of 65 paragraphs or subparagraphs can be applied to a language. Developing the Ulster Scots language to that level will require a coordinated effort across a wide range of statutory and non-governmental organisations.