HL Deb 18 November 2003 vol 654 cc271-2WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 October (WA 39) concerning the incorrect title given to Northern Ireland by the North/South Ministerial Council, on how many occasions the incorrect title was used; what were those occasions: and why the title was incorrect; and [HL5274]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 October (WA 39) concerning the incorrect title given to Northern Ireland by the North/South Ministerial Council, what is their policy regarding the naming of Northern Ireland; whether they issued instructions on this point to departments; if so, what those instructions said, and why they were not adhered to in this case; and [HL5275]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 October (WA 39) concerning the incorrect title given to Northern Ireland by the North/South Ministerial Council, who took the decision to use the word "North"; and why the occasion referred to was considered less formal; and [HL5276]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 October (WA 39), what is meant by "accepted usage". [HL5343]

Baroness Amos

"Accepted usage" is usage which is readily and accurately understood. Terms such as "North" and "South" are readily and accurately understood when used in the context of the North/ South Ministerial Council and the North/South Implementation Bodies.

Reference to Northern Ireland as "the North", although not the legal title of the jurisdiction, is by accepted usage, understood to mean Northern Ireland. The use of the term is not incorrect in documents in which there is no requirement to use the legal title.

As board members of North/South Implementation Bodies are familiar with the word "North" when referring to Northern Ireland it was felt appropriate to use the less formal terminology term on this occasion.

No specific instructions on this matter have been issued by the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat.