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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce whether the Cornish language will be specified within the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. [76011] Mr. Raynsford: I am announcing today that, after careful consideration and with the help of the results of an independent academic study on the language commissioned by the Government, we have decided to recognise Cornish as falling under Part II of the European Charter for Regional or Minority languages. The Government will be registering this decision with the Council of Europe. The purpose of the Charter is to protect and promote the historical regional or minority languages of Europe. It recognises that some of these languages are in danger of eventual extinction and that protection and encouragement of them contributes to Europe's cultural diversity and historical traditions. This is a positive step in acknowledging the symbolic importance the language has for Cornish identity and heritage. Cornish will join Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots and Ulster Scots as protected and promoted languages under the Charter, which commits the Government to recognise and respect those languages. Officials will be initiating discussion with Cornwall county council and Cornish language organisations in Cornwall to ensure the views of Cornish speakers and people wanting to learn Cornish are taken into account in implementing Part II of the Charter.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

76011; 392 c194W;392 c206W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Cornish language Languages Minority groups European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk