Scots Government Commitments tae Gaelic an Scots an Scots Langages Bill: consultation

Ministerial Forewird

Consultation Paper on Scots Government Commitments Tae Gaelic an Scots an Scots Langages Bill

Forewird fae Cabinet Secretar

The Scots Government haes made a wheen strang an forret luikin commitments tae Gaelic an Scots. Your thochts are invitit an walcome on thae commitments in this consultation exercise. The thochts thit we get back wull feed intae the decisions thit are taen on thir commitments.

Hit haes been a hantle years fae legislation wis inactit in support o the Gaelic langage an we noo hae a sklent at reflectin on hou the Gaelic langage (Scotland) Act 2005 an the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 hae wun-throu in practice. Grantin there been stiddy progress fae the legislation wis inactit, we ken thit there wirth in takkin a fresh deek at the misures thit hae been pitten in steid. Up tae noo the Scots langage haesna benefittit fae formal support in legislation an wi aye growin support for the leid A haud hit timeous for tae consider whit we kin dae in this regaird.

Progress haes been biggin, an throu the past decade or twa there been guid pruif o braw progress. For ensampul, there noo support for Gaelic fun in community warks, in steerin an legislation, in national structures, an in a braid reenge o projecks. For tae see the langage progress further forret we hae tae bigg up fae the foond o this diverse Gaelic infrastructure an sustain the community o spikkers an lairners whaure'er an wham-sae-e'er they micht be.

The Scots Government noo haes a Scots Langage Policy. Mair support is tae be fun for Scots in the Cooncil o Europe's European Chairter for Regional or Minority Langages, an in the treisurable information gaithert fae the Scots question in the last census. Scots is comin tae the fore in education, publishin, an the airts, an a haunfae wee'r organisations, wi support fae Government, wirk thegither for tae mak yit mair progress for Scots. This consultation exercise wull gie a haun informin the neist steps for Scots.

Gien the Scots Government's commitments, an the speel thit wull follae this consultation, there a guid chance for tae mak mair o the guid progress thit haes been wun sae faur an for tae strenthen Gaelic an Scots in Scotland throu increasin the nummers o thaim thit's lairnin, spikkin an uisin thir langages athin Scotland. Tae this ettle, your contributions tae this consultation exercise is walcome.

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
Cabinet Secretar for Education & Skills