consultation-scottish-government-commitments-gaelic-scots-scottish-languages-bill

Argyll and Bute Council · 8 December 2022
Back to Policy and Resources Committee — 8 December 2022 and its agenda

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Consultation on The Scottish
Government Commitments
to Gaelic and Scots and a
Scottish Languages Bill

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
ii

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
01
Contents
Ministerial Foreword 02
Introduction 04
Gaelic Medium Education 06
Gàidhealtachd 12
Bòrd na Gàidhlig 18
Scots Language 23
Respondent Information Form 31

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
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Ministerial 
Foreword
Consultation Paper on Scottish
Government Commitments to
Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish
Languages Bill

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
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The Scottish Government has made a number
of strong and ambitious commitments to
Gaelic and Scots and your views are invited
and welcome on the commitments in this
consultation exercise. The views we receive
will assist in the decisions that are taken on
these commitments.
It has been a number of years since
legislation was passed in support of the
Gaelic language and we have an opportunity
to reflect on how the Gaelic language
(Scotland) Act 2005 and the Education
(Scotland) Act 2016 have operated in
practice. While steady progress has been
made since this legislation was passed, we
recognise that there is value in taking a
fresh look at the measures that are in place.
Up until now the Scots language has not
benefitted from formal support through
legislation and with growing support for the
language I believe it time to consider what
we can do in this regard.
Progress has been incremental and over
recent decades there has been evidence
of good progress. For example, there is
now support for Gaelic found in community
initiatives, in guidance and legislation, in
national structures and in a wide range of
projects. For the language to progress further
we need to build on this diverse Gaelic
infrastructure and support the community
of speakers and learners wherever they are
and whoever they may be.
The Scottish Government now has a Scots
language policy. Further support for Scots
is found in the Council of Europe’s European
Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
and in the valuable information obtained
from the Scots question in the last census.
Scots features prominently in education,
publishing and the arts and a number of
small bodies, with support from Government,
are working closely to make further progress
for Scots. This consultation exercise will help
inform the next steps for Scots.
With the Scottish Government’s commitments
and the work that will follow this
consultation there is another opportunity to
build on the good progress that has been
made and to strengthen Gaelic and Scots in
Scotland by increasing the numbers of
people learning, speaking and using these
languages in Scotland. To this end your
contributions to this consultation exercise
are welcome.
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
The Cabinet Secretary for
Education and Skills
Foreword, Cabinet Secretary

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
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Introduction
The Scottish Government has 
an ambitious and wide-ranging
set of commitments to the 
Gaelic and Scots languages. 
This consultation exercise and
the views received will assist
with the progress that we will
make with these commitments.

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
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Scottish Government Commitments
The Scottish Government has made a
number of commitments to the Gaelic and
Scots languages. Among these there are four
key commitments which can be regarded
as particularly significant with the other
commitments falling under these broad
areas. The four key commitments are: to
establish a new strategic approach to GME,
to explore the creation of a Gàidhealtachd,
to review the structure and functions of Bòrd
na Gàidhlig (BnG), and to take action on the
Scots language. Where primary legislation
is needed for these, the commitment to a
Scottish Languages Bill could serve as the
legislative vehicle that will enable progress
to be made with these commitments.
Over recent years there has been good
support for Gaelic. A range of projects
and initiatives have been put in place and
important legislation has been supported
in the Scottish Parliament. There has also
been an increase in support for Scots and
growth in resources available. With these
new commitments and the growing evidence
of support for these languages the Scottish
Government would like to take additional
steps in support of Gaelic and Scots.
The consultation paper will take each of
the key commitments in turn, describing
the key commitment and those subsidiary
commitments which we consider as being
connected to or falling under these broad
areas. We will try to set the scene by
providing a range of views that have been
shared with us thus far through informal
consultation with a range of stakeholders.
This is designed to stimulate further
discussion, ideas and engagement with all
relevant interests. No decisions have as yet
been taken on how to make progress for
Gaelic and Scots and we are actively seeking
contributions from across all communities.
We are seeking views on how further
progress can be made and the views that
we receive will assist in shaping the actions
taken immediately and over the longer term
to deliver on these commitments.
We are aware that there are links and
interdependencies between the various
Gaelic commitments. For example, it is likely
that GME will feature in any discussion
relating to the exploration of a Gàidhealtachd.
Similarly, Bòrd na Gàidhlig has a role in
relation to education; changes to education
or indeed the exploration of a Gàidhealtachd
will involve consideration of the functions
that Bòrd na Gàidhlig should have to support
changes in those area and therefore will
overlap with the review of Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s
own structure and functions.
The commitments above do not specifically
mention MG ALBA but we are aware that the
wide and diverse contribution of MG ALBA
adds value to a number of important areas
of Gaelic activity. The Scottish Government’s
support for MG ALBA has enabled this body
and BBC ALBA to add to Gaelic learning, arts,
community activity, skills and the economy.
For this reason we would expect that MG
ALBA will feature prominently in these
discussions.

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Gaelic Medium Education
This section will consider a new
national strategic approach to
Gaelic medium education which
is essential if we are to see the
faster rates of progress we seek
for Gaelic.

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The Scottish Government has committed 
to make further progress with Gaelic medium
education (GME) by means of a new strategic
approach to Gaelic medium education.
This will involve ensuring that the GME
experience is truly immersive, aiming also 
to increase the range of subjects that can 
be taught in GME at both levels of broad
general education and senior phase of
secondary school. It will involve encouraging
the creation of new GME primary and
secondary schools across Scotland, backed
by further investment to increase the
number of teachers who can teach in the
medium of Gaelic.
There are a number of local authorities 
and bodies that make a vital contribution to
Gaelic medium education in Scotland. Along
with these, the Scottish Government will
ensure that e-Sgoil and Stòrlann continue 
to be supported in order to help with school
education, adult learning, teacher support,
community learning and provide access to
good quality Gaelic education resources.
We will also ensure that Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
continues to be a centre of excellence
for the provision of Gaelic learning, with
dedicated funding to offer Further Education
and Higher Education courses through the
medium of Gaelic. We recognise that Sabhal
Mòr Ostaig has a key role in supporting
GME at all levels and a wide range of Gaelic
community initiatives.
The Scottish Government recognises that
these issues above are essential if we are
to see the faster rates of progress we seek
for Gaelic. The Scottish Government is
committed to maintaining support for Gaelic
education, arts and broadcasting with MG
ALBA having a key role. We also recognise
that there are interdependencies across
these sectors which support one another 
and contribute to the overall aim of
increasing the numbers speaking, using 
and learning the language.
Overview of Gaelic Education in Scotland
Gaelic medium education is an established
sector in Scottish education. A link to Gaelic
education data is available from Bòrd na
Gàidhlig at the following link: Education
Data – Bòrd na Gàidhlig (gaidhlig.scot) The
aim of GME is for young people to be able
to operate confidently and fluently in two
languages as they progress from early
years, through primary education and into
secondary education. GME from nursery
to the end of primary school is a form of
immersion education. With this form of
education, Gaelic is the sole language of
learning, teaching and assessment in the 
first three years of primary school, referred
to as the immersion phase.

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From P4 to P7, immersion education will
continue but, at this stage, learning through
the medium of the English language will be
introduced. From P4 onwards and following
the introduction of English, Gaelic should
remain the predominant language of the
classroom. GME is delivered to children
and young people who come from families
where Gaelic is spoken as well as those
from families with little or no background
in Gaelic.
Gaelic medium primary education (GMPE)
is currently available in 14 out of 32
education authority areas across Scotland.
There are also a growing number of Gaelic
medium schools in Scotland and dual stream
(Gaelic and English) primary schools where
GME is in the majority. There are also
a number of Gaelic medium early years
centres and cròileagain (playgroups)
operating across Scotland.
Gaelic medium secondary education (GMSE)
is also available in 33 secondary schools in
Scotland. In these schools, Gaelic is typically
offered as a subject, with some schools
delivering a further proportion of the
curriculum through the medium of Gaelic.
Gaelic learner education (GLE) is distinct from
GME in that it is delivered to those who are
in English medium education as an additional
language. GLE provides young people with an
introduction to Gaelic language and culture.
Education agencies and public bodies in
Scotland also have a vital role to play in
supporting and developing Gaelic education
in Scotland. Teacher education institutions
also make an essential contribution to the
promotion, support and growth of Gaelic
education in Scotland. Along with these
bodies, Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig
supports pupils, teachers and parents
through its role in providing resources
for Gaelic education.
Building on the Education (Scotland) Act
1980, the Scottish Parliament has passed
a number of pieces of legislation which are
important for the delivery of education
including the delivery of Gaelic education
in Scotland’s schools. These include the
Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, the
Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010,
the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 and
related Guidance.

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Growth and Progress of GME
The Scottish Government would like to 
hear from Gaelic education interests what
they consider to be the barriers or obstacles
that need to be addressed to allow GME to
make further progress. We would also like
to hear your views on possible solutions 
to these issues.
Over recent years there have been reports
on GME and GME consultation responses
which have had a common theme. This
theme has been that there are certain
barriers or obstacles that need to be
addressed in order to enable GME to make
good progress. In order to stimulate further
discussion and engagement with stakeholders
some of these issues are set out below.
However, the Scottish Government wants
to hear your views on where attention is
needed in order to enable and assist with
further progress of GME in Scotland. We
want to elicit your ideas on options to bring
about improvements, and as such when
responding to this consultation you may
wish to provide your views in some of these
area but you should not feel constrained or
limited to these topics. We are open to and
welcome additional views and ideas.
Areas of concern may include:
• GME provision, access to provision 
and local authority promotion of GME, 
• GME as a 3-18 experience 
and GME continuity, 
• GME subject choice, curriculum 
and assessment arrangements, 
• GME teacher recruitment, placement,
retention and professional learning,
• Teacher and pupil support and resources, 
• O-3, early years provision 
and linguistic acquisition,
• Class sizes, language assistants,
immersion and fluency, 
• Taking account of GME when setting
national expectations and in activity
around School Inspection, 
• Inclusion of GME in the planning for
and reporting by schools where GME is
provided as part of a dual stream school.

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These areas above are listed as broad
headings but each could contain further
detailed issues. For example under the
heading of access, we are aware many
parents have had issues with gaining a GME
place where there is limited or no provision.
This may also be the case where demand is
outstripping places available. Some parents
can be disadvantaged or unable to take
up a place where transport issues are
dependent on catchment arrangements
and by the locally established policies
around transport. Again, under the broad
category of subject choice there may be
concern about GME subject provision in the
senior phase. Each of the points listed above
can be subdivided into other more detailed
and specific examples.
The aim of any new strategic approach to
Gaelic medium education will be to support
growth and development and ensure that
GME delivers a good quality educational
experience for all the young people in GME.
In order to achieve this every effort must
be made to bring improvements where a
particular issue is identified as a barrier to
growth. Therefore we ask you to consider
what steps, in your view, need to be taken
to make progress or provide solutions. For
example solutions may involve:
• A review and changes to the duties on
local authorities with regard to GME,
• Clarification of the nature of the 3-18
GME experience and of what parents
can expect from it,
• Further measures to support GME
teacher recruitment and professional
development,
• Ensuring that GME early years provision
is in place and supported,
• Establishing how national bodies and
agencies can better work together to
support GME.
Solutions identified as part of the new
strategic approach to Gaelic medium
education may be delivered through the
current legislation, amendments to it and
an update of the guidance on GME. It is also
necessary to ensure that account is taken of
the wider education reform agenda across
Scottish education and the inclusion of GME
at that heart of that reform. Where you
identify an issue you may wish to suggest
what action you consider could enable
progress to be made in GME.
As mentioned, although a number of
broad headings have been listed above,
there is no presumption that consultation
views should be limited to these points.
Views are welcome on other barriers and
suggested solutions.

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Consultation Questions
Consultation responses are invited on the question of a new strategic approach 
to Gaelic medium education.
Thinking of barriers, obstacles and solutions – What are the key aspects you feel should
be included in a new strategic approach to Gaelic medium education?
What steps do you think should be taken to support and promote Gaelic education 
and to ensure that any new strategic approach to GME is implemented?
Are there any other points you would like to make about the provision of Gaelic medium
education and Gaelic learner education in Scottish education?

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Gàidhealtachd
This section will consider whether
the Gàidhealtachd commitment
should have a principal focus on
location and how it is defined or
on Gaelic speakers wherever they
are and how they are supported.

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The Scottish Government’s wish is to
strengthen the language and support Gaelic
speakers in communities wherever they
may be in Scotland. Our aim will be to
raise levels of language use, provide more
services through the medium of Gaelic and
extend opportunities. In particular, our aim
includes the wish to see an increase of Gaelic
language use in the vital areas of both home
and community. Associated with this is a
commitment to have a focus on arresting
language shift in areas with significant
speaker numbers.
Traditionally the Gàidhealtachd has been a
term used for the Highlands and Islands of
Scotland. At certain points in our history the
language and culture of this region would
have been predominantly Gaelic. Although
the term Gàidhealtachd has not featured
in Gaelic policy in Scotland, the aim of this
commitment will be to consider what further
steps can be taken to support and promote
Gaelic and to increase the numbers speaking,
using and learning the language. The focus
of this section of the consultation paper will
be the commitment to explore the creation
of a Gàidhealtachd.
Ireland’s Gaeltacht
The Irish Gaeltacht areas have been
recognised since the 1920s and these
were areas where the Irish language was
prominent and supported. The most recent
legislation has been the Gaeltacht Act of
2012. The Act redefined the traditional
Irish-speaking areas in Ireland on linguistic
criteria instead of on geographic areas
which had been the position until 2012.
In the Republic of Ireland, this term is more
closely associated with language support
and policy implementation. The Republic of
Ireland has used an equivalent term through
the last century but even that system has
evolved and developed over that period and
it does not provide a clear or a static solution
for us to import in answer to the question
of what may constitute a Gàidhealtachd.
To stimulate consideration and discussion
however an overview of the current
arrangements are referenced below.
The Irish language was once widely spoken
throughout the island of Ireland, but now
approximately only 2% of Ireland’s population
live in the Gaeltacht, the areas where Irish
lives as a community language.

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The Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides the
statutory footing for language planning
process. Under the process, Gaeltacht
communities in addition to communities in
Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language
Networks are being afforded the opportunity
to prepare and implement language plans
at a community level with ongoing support.
Such communities are therefore being
offered the opportunity to play a key role
in addressing the challenges facing the Irish
language as identified at community level.
The Language Planning Guidelines give a
comprehensive overview into the process
and how it operates.
Under the language planning process, Údarás
na Gaeltachta is charged with facilitating
the implementation of the process in
Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas and
Gaeltacht Service Towns located within the
Gaeltacht, while Foras na Gaeilge has similar
responsibility for the implementation of the
process outside the Gaeltacht insofar as it
relates to Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish
Language Networks.
Under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Gaeltacht
has been divided into 26 Gaeltacht Language
Planning Areas which have been given the
opportunity to prepare and implement
language plans at community level. Gaeltacht
Service Towns are towns in, or adjacent to
Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas which
play a significant role in the delivery of public
services and leisure, social and commercial
amenities to those areas. Irish Language
Networks are areas outside the Gaeltacht
which have a basic critical mass of community
and State support for the Irish language.
Gàidhealtachd Discussion
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland has
traditionally and historically been regarded
as the Scottish Gàidhealtachd. However,
in terms of the policy application of
this term, there are differing views and
responses. Some of these have been referred
to below and these may help with responses
to this consultation.
Some regard the term Gàidhealtachd as
a specific location to be geographically
designated. They would see the aim of this
commitment to be to strengthen Gaelic in
geographical areas where it is spoken by
a significant percentage of the population.
The presumption being that there are certain
areas where the Gaelic language has a higher
profile and that certain language support
initiatives should happen in these areas.
At the same time a number of interest
groups did not view the delivery of this
commitment as a straightforward task.
There were questions raised about how this
commitment sat with the concept that Gaelic
should be for all of Scotland and should be
a national language. This was linked to the
concern about ongoing support for Gaelic in
other areas, such as Glasgow or Edinburgh,
that might be defined as non-Gàidhealtachd.
There were suggestions that this approach
might be divisive, might be difficult for the
allocation of grants and if a line was to be
drawn on a map it would be difficult to reach
agreement on the criteria for this decision.

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Others considered that the focus should be
on providing support for those learning and
speaking the language and in the networks
and communities they belong to, wherever
they are. These options are not mutually
exclusive and consideration may need to be
given to how all can be better supported. In
addition to this, we must keep in mind the
importance of on-line, digital resources that
Gaelic speakers and learners have access to
and the communities that result from this.
Gàidhealtachd Options
For the purpose of this consultation
exercise, this section will include a focus
on geographical areas where there is a
significant proportion of Gaelic speakers 
and where there is significant Gaelic activity.
Where there is a focus on a significant
proportion of Gaelic speakers there would 
be the challenge of how to define such an
area and to ask what percentage of the
population would need to be Gaelic speakers
for an area to be defined as Gàidhealtachd.
The question to follow would be what Gaelic
measures should be secured in this area 
– for example should:
• GME be available in all schools?
• bodies adopt a bilingual approach? 
• a measure of community support 
be available for Gaelic?
• public bodies and authorities make 
clear commitments on how they 
intend to improve support for Gaelic
and provide for Gaelic speakers in
Gàidhealtachd areas?
There will also be questions of whether any
additional resources could be allocated to
this area and how this could be monitored
or regulated. This commitment may also
involve questions about enterprise activity
and how sectors such as employment, health,
housing, transport, connectivity, community
matters and more can support Gaelic in such
communities. There will also be questions
of what this will require of other Scottish
Government policy areas.
Separately, certain areas could be defined by
virtue of a level of Gaelic activity. The case
could be made, for example, that in areas
where Gaelic medium education schools
and units are located, this creates certain
networks and levels of Gaelic activity. If
recognition was given on this basis then
again some thought would have to be given
to what activities in support of Gaelic should
be located, encouraged and established in
such areas. In communities where GME exists
there will often be other Gaelic projects
and activities which could include Fèisean
and other Gaelic arts activities, Gaelic adult
learning opportunities and the work of Gaelic
community development officers. It is the
existence of GME that often leads to the
other activities in support of the language.

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An option for making progress with this
commitment could be by means of a review
of the Guidance on Gaelic Language Plans
produced by Bòrd na Gàidhlig. For example,
the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005
and associated Guidance encourages a
proportionate application of Gaelic plans.
There are powers under the 2005 Act
for regulations to be made which make
further provisions for what certain Gaelic
Language Plans should contain. In other
words, commitments should be stronger
where there are more Gaelic speakers.
In addition, there have been commitments
in the National Plans for Gaelic that certain
things should happen in areas with a higher
percentage of Gaelic speakers. The policy
approach of the National Islands Plan with
its Island Communities Impact Assessment
is also relevant here as is the potential to
create local community Plans.
On-line and Digital
Gaelic on-line activity would have to
be seen as an essential element of any
attempt to look at the best way to support
Gaelic speakers. Gaelic on-line activity is
central to all attempts to support Gaelic
whether in towns and cities or in areas
of low population.
Regulation and Enforcement
The question of how requirements in any
Gàidhealtachd area could be implemented
and monitored is also an important part
of this commitment. This was another
theme that emerged clearly in Scottish
Government’s informal consultation work,
where questions were asked about the
powers which Bòrd na Gàidhlig had to
monitor and enforce requirements set out
in Gaelic Language Plans or in their Guidance.
The question of monitoring and enforcement
and where this function should sit, overlaps
with the commitment on the review of the
functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

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Consultation Questions
Consultation responses are invited on the question of exploring the creation of a
Gàidhealtachd.
Do you have views on what measures should be in place to support Gaelic speakers 
in areas with significant numbers of speakers?
Do you have views on how such areas should be defined?
How would you balance the commitment to put measures in place in areas where there
are significant Gaelic speakers with the principle that Gaelic should be a national language
for all of Scotland?
Are there any further points you would like to make about the commitment to explore
the creation of a Gàidhealtachd and the associated commitments relating to Gaelic use 
in family and community?

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Bòrd na Gàidhlig
This section will discuss the
commitment to review the functions
and structures of Bòrd na Gàidhlig
to ensure Scotland has an effective
leadership body and network of
organisations for the promotion 
of Gaelic.

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Bòrd na Gàidhlig was established under 
the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. 
The Scottish Government now intends to
review Bòrd na Gàidhlig to ensure that
Scotland has the most effective leadership
body in place for Gaelic with the most
appropriate powers for the promotion of
Gaelic. The review will involve seeking views
of stakeholders as part of this consultation
and will include working alongside Bòrd na
Gàidhlig to take their views on opportunities
they identify for system improvement. With
reference to the sections of this consultation
on Gaelic Medium Education and exploring 
a Gàidhealtachd it will be also necessary 
to reflect on whether suggestions which
emerge from responses to those sections 
will necessitate further changes to the
functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
The Scottish Government and Bòrd na
Gàidhlig provide support to a wide network
of organisations which work in support of
Gaelic and consideration will be given to how
to provide this support most effectively and
efficiently. Our ambitions for Gaelic include
the contributions of public authorities and
bodies and in particular our wish is that
bodies with functions in arts, tourism and
heritage consider how they can contribute
to achieving faster rates of progress for
Gaelic. The review will look at the current
structure, functions and operation of Bòrd na
Gàidhlig and at the network of funded Gaelic
organisations, with a view to asking if this is
still the right structure to effectively promote
and support Gaelic in Scotland.
A wide range of views have been expressed
on this subject and this is probably a
measure of the importance to the community
of having a national body to promote the
language. Again these views are referred
to here in order to stimulate reflection and
discussion. However stakeholders should 
not feel constrained by these topics and 
are invited as part of this consultation
to offer a full range of views and their
suggestions on any system changes that 
they would like to see.
For example views have been expressed
on a need to rebrand and relocate Bòrd na
Gàidhlig; on the level of Bòrd na Gàidhlig
funding of Gaelic bodies; on the operation of
the Gaelic language plans system including
its implementation, on the status and content
of the documents Bòrd na Gàidhlig produce
including the National Plan for Gaelic and
the Statutory Guidance on Gaelic Language
Plans. Some Gaelic speakers and learners
recognise the key leadership role Bòrd na
Gàidhlig has in promoting the Gaelic language
and community confidence in the language.
Others focus on Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s role in
requiring other public bodies to be more
aware of and impactful for Gaelic and in
supporting Gaelic funded bodies across 
the sector.

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Opinions have been expressed about
whether Bòrd na Gàidhlig should be closer
to the Scottish Government and at the
same time that it should be closer to the
community and to Gaelic organisations. 
There have been comments about regulation
and enforcement and about the corporate
and administrative pressures on a small
public body and how this can be addressed
or alleviated.
There is an awareness that the other 
Scottish Government commitments may 
have implications for the structure and
functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig but mainly
there is an acknowledgement that, given
Bòrd na Gàidhlig was established over
seventeen years ago, the time is right to
review how it is performing and assess
whether the functions it was established
with in 2005 are still suitable for what 
Gaelic requires of it at this point in time.
Some consultees may comment on the
detailed operation of the current Bòrd
na Gàidhlig functions, including their own
experiences of how those operate in practice.
Others may wish to reflect and comment 
on the structure of the body, including 
where it sits in the public body landscape.
Questions of how Gaelic plans should
be regulated and monitored have also
featured in informal consultations, and while
responses on that may be offered in the
context of exploring a Gàidhealtachd we
would welcome any suggestions as to how
the Gaelic Plans System could be amended 
to make stronger, faster progress for Gaelic.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig Functions
Bòrd na Gàidhlig has as its founding
legislation the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act
2005. It also has a Framework Document
which sets out its relationship with
Government together with respective roles
and responsibilities.
The general functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, as
set out in the 2005 Act, can be summarised
as relating to the Gaelic language, Gaelic
education and Gaelic culture. Bòrd na
Gàidhlig has duties to promote and facilitate
the promotion of the use and understanding
of the language. Bòrd na Gàidhlig has
functions to provide advice on language,
education and culture to Scottish Ministers
and other public bodies. In addition, Bòrd
na Gàidhlig has power to advise, on request,
other persons on matters relating to the
Gaelic language, Gaelic Education and 
Gaelic culture.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig is also responsible for
duties relating to Gaelic plans and for the
preparation of the National Plan for Gaelic.
The Bòrd can require public authorities to
produce a Gaelic Language Plan setting out
what that body will do in relation to Gaelic,
can agree the content of the plan with them
and request reports on progress on how
that is implemented. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is
also required to prepare Guidance on Gaelic
language plans and on Gaelic education.
A significant percentage of the funding
allocated to Bòrd na Gàidhlig is distributed
through grants by them to other bodies 
and projects related to support for the 
Gaelic language.

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The 2005 Act provides that the functions
conferred on Bòrd na Gàidhlig should be
exercised with a view to securing the status
of the Gaelic language as an official language
of Scotland commanding equal respect to
the English language through increasing the
number of persons who are able to use and
understand the Gaelic language.
Status as an Executive 
Non-Departmental Public Body
Bòrd na Gàidhlig is a Non-Departmental
Public Body. NDPBs play an important role
in the delivery of public services in Scotland,
carrying out a wide range of functions on
behalf of Government, with varying degrees
of operational autonomy from Government.
NDPBs deliver ministers’ priorities through
the promotion, funding, regulation and
scrutiny of services as well as by providing
independent, expert advice to ministers and,
often, strategic policy input to Government.
NDPBs should add value to Government
through their specialist knowledge and skills,
their focus on specific issues and connections
with stakeholders and other interests. They
are, by nature, delivery-focused and align
their business to the Government’s Purpose
and National Outcomes.
In terms of structure, Bòrd na Gàidhlig could
sit closer to Government and there are
options to consider on how this could be
done. There could be efficiencies in this in
terms of legal, human resources, finance and
corporate support. This could relieve some of
the administrative burdens on a small body.
While Bòrd na Gàidhlig operates as a small
public body, this allows it wherever possible
to operate through the medium of Gaelic.
We expect that there is wide support for the
principle of having a public body to promote
and support the Gaelic language and that it is
considered important that this body should
continue to operate in the Gaelic language.
Gaelic Language Plans
Scottish Government would like to hear
your views on whether the Gaelic language
planning framework remains the best way
to proceed for the protection of the Gaelic
language or whether wider changes should
feature as a result of this review. The current
system of Gaelic plans has demonstrated
progress but there is an opportunity to
consider whether that system could be
strengthened or whether there is a better
mechanism for making further, faster
progress for Gaelic. If you have experience 
of the Gaelic language planning framework
we would ask you to consider whether it is
as efficient as it could be, or whether you
have any suggestions to make on how to
achieve a less resource-intensive ways of
making progress for Gaelic.

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Consultation Questions
Consultation responses are invited on the question of a review of the structure and
functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Do you have any views on the current duties of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and any suggestions 
of how these could operate more effectively or efficiently?
Do you have any views on structural changes at Bòrd na Gàidhlig which could strengthen
the promotion of and support for Gaelic in Scotland?
Are there any further points you would like to make about the review of the functions
and structure of Bòrd na Gàidhlig which seeks to ensure Scotland 
has the most effective leadership body and network of organisations for the promotion
of Gaelic?

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Scots Language
We will bring forward a new
Scottish Languages Bill which
takes further steps to support
Gaelic, acts on the Scots language
and recognises that Scotland 
is a multilingual society.

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
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Scots Language Policy Context
The Scottish Government has a Scots
language policy which was officially launched
in 2015. The Scottish Government is also
committed to build on this and take further
steps to support Scots. There are a number
of other statements and commitments
which demonstrate the policy context
that Scots is set in and the level of priority
being accorded by the Scottish Government
to the Scots.
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. The Scots provisions
include the undertakings that policies
should be based on recognition of regional
or minority languages as an expression
of cultural wealth. The undertakings include
the need for resolute action to promote
regional and minority languages such as
Scots. The undertakings also include the
facilitation and encouragement of the use
of Scots in speech and writing, in public
and private life, the provision of appropriate
forms and means for the teaching and study
of Scots and more.
Scots has also received recognition in Scottish
education. The Curriculum for Excellence
makes clear that ‘the languages, dialects and
literature of Scotland provide a rich resource
for children and young people to learn about
Scotland’s culture, identity and language.
Through engaging with a wide range of
texts they will develop an appreciation of
Scotland’s literary and linguistic heritage
and its indigenous languages and dialects.
This principle permeates the experiences
and outcomes and it is expected that
practitioners will build upon the diversity of
language represented within the communities
of Scotland, valuing the languages which
children and young people bring to school.’
Following on from this, the Scottish
Government in 2011 agreed to develop the
concept of Scottish Studies in our schools.
The Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
developed the Scottish Studies award and
the Scots Language award aimed at creating
a distinct strand of learning focused on
Scotland incorporating Scottish history,
Scottish literature, the Scots and Gaelic
languages, wider culture and Scottish current
affairs. All pupils have access to this strand
at Primary and Secondary levels.
Research has been encouraged into
attainment levels amongst students who
are taking these awards. Creative writing
in Scots is also encouraged and supported
within Scottish Qualification Authority’s (SQA)
National Qualifications for English. There was
a significant increase between 2018-2019
in the number of learners sitting and
attaining these awards, in all levels from
SCQF level 2-6.

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The Scots Language Awards is an annual
event and different from the Scottish
Qualification Authority awards. These awards
were first established in 2019 to celebrate
the work that has been going on in Scots
community for many years now. The main
aims of the event is to raise the profile of
the language and promote the work being
done and to support it in the media. The
awards also gives a platform to the many
writers, organisations and performers to
help promote themselves in their careers.
Education Scotland has provided good
support for the place of Scots within
education and has promoted and developed
an online professional development course
for teachers.
In 2022, the Scottish Government is
providing funding to the following
organisations and other Scots projects:
• Scots Language Centre
• Dictionaries of the Scots Language
• Association for Scottish Literature
• Scots Hoose
• Scots Radio/Doric Film Festival
• Doric Board
• Scottish Book Trust (Scots Publishing
Grant & Scots Bookbug app)
• YoungScot (Scottish Languages Panel)
Informal Discussions
There have been informal discussions with
Scots stakeholders and those with interest
in the language. In these discussions a range
of measures were suggested to strengthen
Scots and raise the profile of the language.
The focus was largely on education, arts,
broadcasting and publishing. In addition,
there was also discussion of what new
structures may be needed to support
the Scots language.
In these discussions, there was broad
enthusiasm for Scots to be given increased
recognition and for Scots to have a higher
profile in education. Scots representatives
also highlighted the potential for the use of
Scots to increase in arts, broadcasting and
publishing. A number of bodies could make
a significant contribution in this area.
There were also suggestions received that
the best way forward for the Scots language
would be to build on the work and expertise
of bodies that are already in place and
receiving support. In order to assist with this
discussion, a number of Scots bodies have
been listed below with a brief description
of their activity.

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Key Scots Bodies
The Scots Language Centre
The Scots Language Centre (SLC) receives
funding from the Scottish Government to
provide information and advice on Scots,
raise awareness of and promote the use of
the Scots language, culture and education. It is
one of the main online sources for educational
resources for early years to secondary
along with Scots Hoose. The Scots Language
Centre also employ a General Teaching
Council Scotland (GTCS) registered teacher
as their educational specialist who maintains
partnership working with Education Scotland,
the SQA, and other educational organisations,
developing professional learning and
resources both collaboratively and in-house.
The Scots Language Centre routinely
supports and expertly advises, on request,
individuals, groups, organisations, and public
bodies on issues across the whole range of
language usage. The Scots Language Centre
also lead on the “Aye Can” campaign aimed
at creating awareness around the Scots
language in relation to the Scots question
in the 2022 Census. The Scots Language
Centre has produced a new range of Scots
online, interactive learning materials for
use by learners 3-18, teachers and parents.
In September 2021, the Scots Language
Centre launched the “Scots Warks” guidance
and resources aimed to help people gain
confidence in their literacy skills, writing
in Scots. This guidance was created in
consultation with Scots speakers and
developed through an expert working group,
made up of several prominent Scots authors.
Dictionaries of the Scots Language
The Scottish Government funds the
Dictionaries of the Scots Language which is
responsible for the major dictionaries of the
Scots Language and undertakes a wide range
of educational outreach work with people of
all ages and abilities. The Dictionaries of the
Scots Language has published articles about
Scots words in the Herald newspaper to raise
awareness and encourage discussion with
the public. As part of Book Week Scotland
in November 2019, the Dictionaries of the
Scots Language launched the publication “100
Favourite Scots Words”. In early 2021, the
Dictionaries of the Scots Language launched
the free “Scots Dictionary for Schools app”
available to all school pupils and learners
alike. The new app features thousands of
audio files to help learners with pronunciation.
It was downloaded over 1000 times in its first
week of launch and continues to be a valuable
learning tool for schools and learners.
Association of Scottish Literature
The Association of Scottish Literature (ASL)
also receives funding from the Scottish
Government. The Association of Scottish
Literature provides professional development
and support materials on Scottish literature
and languages for teachers and pupils,
publishes Scottish literature which has been
neglected or warrants fresh presentation
to a modern audience and also produces a
series of school-college level study guides
and resources. The Association of Scottish
Literature also holds a Schools Conference
providing Continued Professional Learning
Development (CPLD) for teachers in
secondary for English and Scots.

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Scots Hoose
Scots Hoose is the leading provider of free
online Scots language education resources
for schools. In 2022/23, the Scottish
Government will provide funding to Scots
Hoose; it produces much-needed films,
animations, graphic novels, original poems,
stories, songs and learning resources in Scots
for early years, primary and secondary
teachers and pupils. Its mission is to raise
attainment by improving Scots provision for
all of Scotland’s young Scots speakers, with
particular focus on young Scots speakers
living in areas of deprivation. Scots Hoose
has worked with a range of professional
artists from different backgrounds and have
involved schools in contributing to resources
and even making their own short films.
Scots Radio/Doric Film Festival
The Scottish Government provides funding
to Scots Radio, who successfully established
Aberdeenshire’s first ever Doric Film Festival
in 2018-2019. The festival, provides a
high-profile platform for showcasing short
films made by individuals, community groups
and schools in the North East of Scotland.
At the recent 2021 Celtic Media awards,
Scots Radio won the Radio magazine show
award. The Doric board was created with a
strong focus to supporting local groups and
projects by providing small grants to support
Doric development and initiatives.
Scottish Book Trust
In 2018, the Scots publication grant
was launched, funded by the Scottish
Government and delivered by the Scottish
Book Trust. It was created to support Scots
publishers and encourage Scots writers. The
grant has proved a great success, producing
a mix of several publications featuring
poetry, fiction, children’s and historical
works. It shows the wealth of talent and
interest in the language, and strengthens the
case for the Scottish Government’s support
of Scots and those who wish to use it.
The Commitment to Scots
The commitment to a Scottish Languages Bill
will be the key legislative vehicle for delivery
of any changes to primary legislation which
may be needed to deliver the commitments
on the Scots language and multilingual
recognition. As noted earlier, there is broad
enthusiasm for Scots to be given increased
recognition and status and the discussion
above has noted the possibility of an
expanded role for current Scots bodies.
There is also a wish for Scots to have
increased promotion and support in
education. Similarly, a duty on bodies to
promote and support Scots or to consider
how they can take account of Scots in their
work could be delivered through a bill.

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Consultation Questions
Consultation responses are invited on the question of support for the Scots language.
Thinking of the work of the key Scots bodies as referred to in the paper – What are your
views on the work of the Scots bodies? How would you strengthen and add to the work
of these bodies?
What are your views on the next steps that should be taken to support the 
Scots language?
Are there any further points you would like to make about the commitment to support
the Scots language?

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Consultation arrangements 
– Responding to this Consultation
The Scottish Government is seeking views 
on its commitments towards Gaelic and Scots
and a Scottish Languages Bill.
Please respond to this consultation using
the Scottish Government’s consultation hub,
Citizen Space. Access and respond to this
consultation online at https://consult.gov.scot/
education-reform/gaelic-and-scots-scottish-
languages-bill
You can save and return to your responses
while the consultation is still open. Please
ensure that consultation responses are
submitted before the closing date of
Thursday 17th November 2022.
If you are unable to respond using our
consultation hub, please complete the
Respondent Information Form and send to:
GaelicAndScotsConsultation@gov.scot
Handling your response
If you respond using the consultation hub,
you will be directed to the About You page
before submitting your response. Please
indicate how you wish your response to
be handled and, in particular, whether you
are content for your response to published.
If you ask for your response not to be
published, we will regard it as confidential,
and we will treat it accordingly.
All respondents should be aware that the
Scottish Government is subject to the
provisions of the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002 and would therefore
have to consider any request made to it
under the Act for information relating to
responses made to this consultation exercise.
If you are unable to respond via Citizen
Space, please complete and return the
Respondent Information Form included 
in this document.
To find out how we handle your personal
data, please see our privacy policy: 
https://www.gov.scot/privacy/
Next steps in the process
Where respondents have given permission
for their response to be made public, and
after we have checked that they contain 
no potentially defamatory material,
responses will be made available to the
public at http://consult.gov.scot. If you use
the consultation hub to respond, you will
receive a copy of your response via email.
Following the closing date, all responses will
be analysed and considered along with any
other available evidence to help us.
Responses will be published where we have
been given permission to do so. An analysis
report will also be made available.
Comments and complaints: If you have
any comments about how this consultation
exercise has been conducted, please send
them to the contact address above or at
ConsultationPSC@gov.scot

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
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Scottish Government consultation
process.
Consultation is an essential part of the
policymaking process. It gives us the
opportunity to consider your opinion
and expertise on a proposed area of work.
You can find all our consultations online:
http://consult.gov.scot Each consultation
details the issues under consideration,
as well as a way for you to give us your
views, either online, by email or by post.
Responses will be analysed and used as part
of the decision making process, along with
a range of other available information and
evidence. We will publish a report of this
analysis for every consultation. Depending
on the nature of the consultation exercise
the responses received may:
• indicate the need for policy development
or review;
• inform the development of a particular
policy;
• help decisions to be made between
alternative policy proposals;
• be used to finalise legislation before
it is implemented.
While details of particular circumstances
described in a response to a consultation
exercise may usefully inform the policy
process, consultation exercises cannot
address individual concerns and comments,
which should be directed to the relevant
public body.
Scottish Government consultation exercises
aim to provide opportunities for all those
who wish to express their opinions on a
proposed area of work to do so in ways
which will inform and enhance that work.
The Scottish Government may make the
responses to this consultation paper available
to the public and to the Scottish Parliament.
Please complete the relevant sections in
the response form to ensure that we will
treat your response appropriately. All
responses will be acknowledged, analysed
and considered by the Scottish Government
Gaelic & Scots Team.
Respondents should be aware that the
Scottish Government is subject to the
provisions of the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002 and would therefore
have to consider any request made to it
under the Act for information relating to
responses made to this consultation exercise.

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Respondent 
Information Form

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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
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Consultation on The Scottish Government Commitments to Gaelic and Scots and a Scottish Languages Bill
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© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except
where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-
government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National
Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to
obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at www.gov.scot
Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at
The Scottish Government
St Andrew’s House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
ISBN: 978-1-80435-814-6 (web only)
Published by The Scottish Government, August 2022
Produced for The Scottish Government by APS Group Scotland, 21 Tennant Street, Edinburgh EH6 5NA
PPDAS 1133062 (08/22)
w w w . g o v . s c o t

Page 48

© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except
where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-
government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National
Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to
obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at www.gov.scot
Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at
The Scottish Government
St Andrew’s House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
ISBN: 978-1-80435-814-6 (web only)
Published by The Scottish Government, August 2022
Produced for The Scottish Government by APS Group Scotland, 21 Tennant Street, Edinburgh EH6 5NA
PPDAS 1133062 (08/22)
w w w . g o v . s c o t