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National Identity: Languages

Volume 487: debated on Monday 9 February 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the United Kingdom has an official language. (254736)

The UK does not have an official language defined in statute, although English is the predominant language by custom and usage. In addition, under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages the UK Government have recognised Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster Scots and Cornish as minority languages within the UK.