asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they will make to support those in Northern Ireland who have as a native tongue (a) Polish; (b) a Chinese language; (c) Irish; and (d) Ulster-Scots.[HL502]

In respect of those in Northern Ireland who have either Polish or Chinese as their native tongue, all government departments adhere to the Guide to Making Information Accessible, a government-wide document which advises officials on how information should be provided to the public to meet the needs of all those who wish to access services. Northern Ireland government departments will continue to comply fully with the provisions in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which the Government have undertaken to pursue in respect of Irish and Ulster-Scots.

In the St Andrews agreement the Government are committed to introducing an Irish Language Bill reflecting on the experience in Wales and Ireland and to work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the Irish language. A consultation paper on proposed Irish language legislation was published on 13 December.

In the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 the Government have put duties on the Executive of a devolved Government as follows:

the Executive Committee shall adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language; and

the Executive Committee shall adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and develop the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture.