Scottish Government policy regarding the Scots Language: FOI release

Information requested

1. Haes the Scots Govrenment ony offeecial policy anent the Scots leid? Please provide it gin yese dae.
2. Is the Scots Govrenment makkin ony ettles fur tae accomodate memmers ae the public wha's wantin tae spikk wi the govrenment in the Scots leid? Please advise me ae thir ettles.
3. Haes the Scots Govrenment ony policie anent the Scots leid as a pairt ae the current legislativ program? Please advise me o thir policie(s).
4. Haes the Scots Govrenment haudit ony meetin, aither public or privat, anent the Scots leid in ony wey, inwi thir last ten year? Please provide the meenutes frae thir meetins.

Response

Ah include a copy o some o the information ye speirt for.

Scots Leid Official Policy

The Scots Government has the follaein public Scots leid policy: Scots leid policy: Scots version -gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Scots Language Provision

The Scots Government daesnae hae ony specific policy for accomodatin memmers o the public that want tae spik wi the government in the Scots leid. Houaniver, the Scots Government daes ettle at accommodatin sic speirins whaur reasonable and appropriate. This is kythed in the wirkins o the Scots Languages Bill Consultation, the Scots leid policy and this FOI repone.

Scots Leid Future Legislation Program

The Scots government is richt noo in the act o takkin forrit the Scots Languages Bill: Scots Languages Bill – Bills (proposed laws) – Scots Pairliament | Scots Pairliament Wabsite.

Meetins relatin tae the Scots Leid

For aw that we ettle at giein oot information whaurever we can, in this case the cost o airtin oot, bringin back, and giein oot the information speirt for wad be mair as the upper cost leemit o £600. Tae airt oot the meetins wad hae needit luikin throu sindry folders haudin thoosands o files that micht or michtna be relatit for information. Forby, it wad be necessar tae speir sindry colleagues tae luik through their personal inboxes and calendars for ony relatit information. The meetins that the Scots Government has attendit relatin tae Scots wad then need tae hae been set oot in a presentable wey, which like as no wad hae includit a hantle o meetins and wad hae takken a guid amoont o time and fash. Follaein thon, redactions wad mebbe hae needit tae be thocht ower and makkit, and meenits set forrit in a wey that took accoont o redactions. Unner section 12 o FOISA, public authorities dinnae need tae gang alang wi with a speirin for information if the authority jalouses that the cost o sae daein wad be mair as the upper cost leemit, which is set at £600 the noo bi Regulations makkit unner section 12.

You micht, houaniver, want tae think aboot bringin in the range o yer speirin sae as the costs can be brung ablow £600. This could be duin bi bringin doon the nummer o years speirt for, the Scots Government daesnae keep haud o staff calendars. Tae airt oot the information wad hae needit luikin throu sindry folders haudin thoosands o files that micht or michtna be relatit for information. Ithergates, this could be duin bi bringin in the range o the subjeck maitter. Ony meetins relatin tae the Scots leid is a muckle range, and sae micht include a braid range o aw kinds o meetins relatin tae the Scots leid. Bringin this doon tae jist the ae Scots leid topic could allou us tae complete yer speirin, sic as bi restrictin yer speirin tae meetins relatit tae Scots in the Scots Languages Bill or wi certain bodies fundit bi the Scots Government tae uphaud Scots. Ye micht find it haundy forby tae hae a luik at the Scots Information Commissioner's 'Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs' on his wabsite at:
http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/Tipsforrequesters.aspx.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.