Minorities

Mr. Rogerson
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which minority groups are recognised by her Department under the terms of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Mr. Woolas
The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities does not define the term “national minority” nor is “national minority” a legally defined term in the United Kingdom.

The Government therefore ratified the Framework Convention on the understanding that its principles should apply to members of “racial groups” as set out in the Race Relations Act 1976. Section 3(1) of that Act defines a racial group as:

“a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins”.