Gaelic Language ( Scotland ) Act 2005 - secure status for Gaelic
The Partnership Agreement for a Better Scotland (
PABS document) contains a commitment to provide secure status for Gaelic through a Gaelic Language Act. This commitment was confirmed in the First Minister's statement on the Executive's legislative programme.
'We believe that the Gaelic language is important to all of Scotland and is a unique part of our culture and heritage. To underpin the support that we will give to the language, we will legislate to give Gaelic secure status - enshrining the Gaelic language in Scots law for the first time'
Draft Bill
The first step in this process was public consultation on a draft Gaelic Language Bill. The draft Bill was launched by the First Minister, Jack McConnell, on 10 October 2003 at the
100th Royal National Mod at Oban.
The draft Bill built on and developed work undertaken previously by Comunn na Gaidhlig, a Private Member's Gaelic Bill and a report on that Bill by Parliament's Education, Culture and Sport Committee.
The draft Bill and consultation responses can be found at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Arts-Culture/gaelic/17912/12313
Parliamentary consideration of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill
The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 24 September 2004. The Bill was considered in detail by Parliament's Education Committee and was passed, unopposed, on 21 April 2005. The Bill's progress through Parliament is recorded at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsnotInProgress/index.htm#69
Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005
The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 received Royal Assent on 1 June 2005 and can be found at
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/20050007.htm#aofs
The main provisions of the Act are:
- the establishment of the Gaelic development agency, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, on a statutory basis
- the requirement for Bòrd na Gàidhlig to exercise its functions with a view to securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language
- the establishment of the Bòrd's functions as:
o promoting, and facilitating the promotion of the use and understanding of the Gaelic language, Gaelic education and Gaelic culture
o advising Ministers, public bodies and other persons on matters relating to the Gaelic language, Gaelic education and Gaelic culture
o monitoring, and reporting to Ministers on, implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in respect of Gaelic
- the requirement for Bòrd na Gàidhlig to develop a National Gaelic Language Plan, including a strategy for the development of Gaelic education, to set out a blueprint for the future development of the language
- the ability for Bòrd na Gàidhlig to request relevant authorities to develop and implement a Gaelic language plan (which would set out how that body would enable the use of the Gaelic language)
- the ability for Bòrd na Gàidhlig to issue guidance to public bodies on language planning and Gaelic education
The Scottish Executive is committed to enabling the Gaelic language not only to survive, but to thrive into the future.
Ministers expect the provisions of the Act, in conjunction with existing Scottish Executive, local authority and public body action in the areas of Gaelic arts, education and development, to create the conditions where the number of Gaelic speakers will grow and where the language will be passed on within families, promoted by schools, widely used in communities and valued by learners.
The Act has national scope in recognition of the fact that the Gaelic language is a language of all of Scotland. The provisions of the Act have been designed with flexibility in mind to ensure that Gaelic language development resources can be targeted where they will have most benefit.