You are right Jack in that in the UK the minority home languages have a measure of protection under the European Charter. Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Welsh and to a lesser degree Scots, Ulster Scots, Manx and Cornish. Not sure what, if anything, would replace the charter. Not such an issue here in Scotland but it is a hot potato in Northern Ireland - and I understand one of the main stumbling blocks over the devolved power sharing being up and running again is over a proposed Irish language act. Not sure what the details are.....