HL Deb 23 June 2004 vol 662 c123WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which consultants were commissioned by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in 2001 to work with the Ulster-Scots Language Society to help develop a strategic planning capacity. [HL2748]

The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)

John Edmund was commissioned in February 2000 to produce a strategic plan for the promotion of the Ulster-Scots language.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the languages, histories, cultures and identities of the Ulster Scots and the Irish should be treated equally; and why bodies representing Ulster-Scots culture do not receive the same level of resources as bodies representing Irish culture. [HL3022]

Baroness Amos

The Government treat bodies representing Ulster-Scots and Irish Language and culture fairly and impartially in accordance with the principles of good public administration. In relation to funding for the agencies of the North/South Language Body I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 20 May 2004 (WA 95).