HL Deb 09 September 2003 vol 652 cc109-10WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government.

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8 July (WA 25) concerning the Northern Ireland Department of Education, what steps they have taken to encourage schools to introduce aspects of the Ulster Scots language, literature and culture as part of the cultural heritage and education for mutual understanding. [HL3956]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Provided the requirements of the statutory Northern Ireland curriculum are met, it is a matter for each individual school to decide which additional subjects should be made available for pupils. The statutory curriculum is designed to take up less than 100 per cent of a school's timetable, allowing schools a degree of flexibility to offer other subjects or to concentrate on particular areas, which they have identified as being important to them or for which there is demand.