asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they have any proposals to increase the budget for 2007 for the Ulster-Scots Agency to match that available to the Irish language in order to meet the requirements of equality and parity of esteem.[HL7914]

The 2007 budget for the Ulster-Scots Agency will be determined in accordance with approved actions in the agency’s annual business plan. The Government are committed to affording equal respect to Ulster-Scots and the Irish language. They are, however, at different levels of development, as indicated by the different levels of recognition under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Officials are working with representatives of the Ulster Scots community to agree a strategy to assist Ulster-Scots in achieving Part III status.