Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan MSP is urging island residents to take part in the Scottish Government’s consultation on Gaelic, Scots, and a Scottish Languages Bill.

The government is seeking the public’s views on the future of Gaelic-medium Education, the formation of a geographical region of enhanced Gaelic promotion, termed Gàidhealtachd, the functions and structures of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and a new Scottish Languages Bill which will reinforce Gaelic and legislate, for the first-time, support for the Scots language.

The consultation closes on 17 November 2022.

Alasdair Allan MSP commented:

“Considerable progress has been made since the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act of 2005, which recognised Gaelic as an official language in Scotland and established Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the body tasked with the language’s promotion.

“In 2021, the SNP was re-elected to the Scottish Parliament with a manifesto containing the strongest commitments to the Gaelic language yet. We also pledged to formalise support for the Scots language within a new languages’ bill.

“Scotland is a linguistically diverse nation with three native languages – Gaelic, Scots, and English – and it is important that we build on this unique inheritance. I would like to encourage everyone to take part in this opportunity to shape the future of our languages.”

More information about the consultation may be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/consultation-scottish-government-commitments-gaelic-scots-scottish-languages-bill

Scots is spoken throughout Scotland and the 2011 Census indicated that over 1.5 million people identified themselves as Scots speakers. The Council of Europe’s Charter on Regional or Minority Languages recognises Scots.

Gaelic, spoken by 57,000 people, is supported through the Gaelic language (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Education (Scotland) Act 2016. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is the executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government with responsibility for Gaelic.