Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of bilingual street signs on sectarianism in Northern Ireland.

Local councils in Northern Ireland have the discretion to name streets and provide street signage, including street names expressed in languages other than English. The Government works to ensure equality of opportunity and good relations are central to policy, local councils in Northern Ireland will decide their own methods of consultation within their communities.

The Government celebrates Northern Ireland’s rich tapestry of languages, identities and cultures, and believes that the United Kingdom’s strength lies in its diversity.