HOLYROOD has launched a call for views on a bill that would give Gaelic and Scots languages official status in Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee are seeking views from the public as they begin to scrutinise the Scottish Languages Bill.
The legislation would change the status of Scots and Gaelic and change the responsibilities of both the Scottish Government and other public bodies to support the languages.
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The consultation is available in English, Gaelic, Scots, and BSL and responses in any language are welcome, the committee said as it launched the call.
Sue Webber, Tory MSP and convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, said: “We are launching our scrutiny of the Scottish Languages Bill with a call for views on the Government’s proposals.
“The Bill could have implications for communities across Scotland and we want to hear what people, organisations and public bodies think of the Government’s proposals.
“To share your views with our committee, please complete the call for views on the Parliament’s website.”
The legislation specifies that the Scottish Government must promote Gealic and Scots education in schools, while giving ministers powers to set standards on the languages within education.
It would designate geographical areas as “areas of linguistic significance” - where 20% of the area population speaks Gaelic, has a historical connection with the language, provides Gaelic education, or “hosts other significant Gaelic activity”.
The legislation would change the responsibilities of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the public body that is responsible for promoting Gaelic development, and allow ministers to create guidance for public bodies in relation to the promotion and support for the Gaelic and Scots languages.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig would be required to report on progress in regard to the Gaelic language strategy, as well as whether public authorities are complying with their duties to promote the use of the language.
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Concerning Scots, the legislation would require ministers to produce a language strategy and report on progress, give ministers the powers to give guidance to local authorities on promoting Scots, and powers over standards and guidance in schools.
According to the 2011 Census, 58,000 people (1.1%) in Scotland can speak Gaelic, while more than 1.5 million said they could speak Scots.
The committee’s call for views, through responding to a short survey or a longer written response, will be open until March 8 2024.
We told how Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said it was important to “be proud” of Scotland’s national languages, when the Scottish Languages Bill was introduced in November last year.
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