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The Gaelic Language Bill
Consultation Paper

Section 5: Bòrd na Gàidhlig

Both the MacPherson Report and the Meek Report recommended the establishment of a Gaelic development agency as a small strategic unit that will play a pivotal role in Gaelic development. The Executive has already acted on this recommendation. Bòrd na Gàidhlig was established in April 2003 as an Executive Non Departmental Public Body. It is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, with a Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The Education Culture and Sport Committee Report in the last session of Parliament, made the following point.

'. . . given the overwhelming evidence in support of formally establishing Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the Committee recommends that the Executive investigate establishing Bòrd na Gàidhlig in legislation and defining its roles and responsibilities'.

The proposals contained in the draft Bill put the Bòrd on a statutory basis and also provide it with a significant role in relation to Gaelic development and language planning.

The Bill proposes to give Bòrd na Gàidhlig the general functions of promoting the use of Gaelic (section 1(2)(a)), and of advising Scottish Ministers on matters relating to Gaelic language and culture (section 1(2)(b)). These functions are to be exercised with a view to securing the status of Gaelic as one of the languages of Scotland. Bòrd na Gàidhlig will also be required to produce a national plan for Gaelic and prepare guidance for public bodies on Gaelic language planning.

In section 2(1), Bòrd na Gàidhlig is required to prepare a national Gaelic language plan with proposals for promoting Gaelic. Further details of this can be found in section 2(2) to (6). The purpose of a national Gaelic language plan is to provide an agreed and considered approach to Gaelic development. This plan, which will contain a strategy and priorities, will, following consultation, be produced by Bòrd na Gàidhlig within two years of the Act being commenced and approved by Scottish Ministers. The plan will provide a framework to ensure that all bodies and agencies involved in Gaelic language and culture will be able to adopt a shared approach to Gaelic development.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig is also required to prepare guidance for public bodies on language planning (section 3(1)). Further detail of this can be found in section 3(2) to (5). This guidance should be prepared by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and approved by Scottish Ministers. Public bodies must have regard to this guidance in determining whether they should prepare a Gaelic language plan.

Schedule 1 to the draft Bill details the status, membership, constitution, reporting arrangements and powers of Bòrd na Gàidhlig. The provisions of the draft Bill apply to the whole of Scotland, and are not restricted to specific geographical areas. However, Bòrd na Gàidhlig will also be given powers to carry out its activities beyond the borders of Scotland. This will enable actions which link to Gaelic communities and others abroad.

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