LANGUAGE DIVERSITY IN THE UK

That this House deeply regrets the comments made by Dame Louise Casey calling on the Government to set a target date for everyone in the UK to speak English; notes that English is not the only official language of the UK; recognises the place of Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, Irish Scots, Ulster Scots and Cornish as official native languages of the UK according to the British Council; dismisses the view of Dame Casey that everyone in the UK should speak one language; believes that everyone should feel respected within their communities, and not condemned for their diversity, particularly in terms of language; and urges the Government to dismiss these comments and commit to strengthening the status given to official languages.