The 1991 Census of population recorded 69,510 people aged 3 or over as being able to speak, read, or write Gaelic. This is 1.4% of the Scottish population.

There are no national minority languages which have "State" or "official" status in Scotland. The Government is, however, committed to the support of the Gaelic language, culture, and identity.

Under the British Nationality Act 1981, a knowledge of Scottish Gaelic, English, or Welsh satisfies one of the conditions for naturalisation as a British citizen.

Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, education authorities have a duty to secure adequate and efficient provision of school education and further education and both of these include the teaching of Gaelic in Gaelic-speaking areas.

Under the Grants for Gaelic Language Education (Scotland) Regulations 1986, made under Section 73 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, The Scottish Office and local authorities have operated a scheme of specific grants for Gaelic education since 1986.

The Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 place a duty on the Secretary of State for Scotland to make payments to a Gaelic Broadcasting Fund.

The Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911 requires that one member of the Scottish Land Court must be a Gaelic speaker and the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 makes a similar requirement for the Crofters Commission. The 1911 Act implies that Gaelic may be used before the SLC although there have never been any written proceedings in Gaelic.

The Local Government (Gaelic Names)(Scotland) Act 1997 allows a local authority to adopt a Gaelic name. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (formerly the Western Isles Council) changed its name under the Act with effect from 1 January 1998.

In the main traditional Gaelic speaking area the local authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has a full bilingual policy.

It can be possible for persons belonging to national minorities to use their own language in their contacts with administrative authorities and public services. This is not a matter of right under national law but is based on voluntary principles.

Government Ministers may, by order, prescribe Gaelic versions of official forms, although at present this is not general practice. Local authorities may also provide forms in Gaelic if they wish.

The Secretary of State for Scotland appointed Mr Calum MacDonald MP as Minister with special responsibility for Gaelic on 29 July 1998. Mr MacDonald’s predecessor, Mr Brian Wilson, had been appointed on 20 May 1997.

On 9 June 1997 the Government launched the Columba Initiative to foster closer cultural and linguistic ties between the Gaelic speaking communities of Scotland and the island of Ireland. Initially, the feasibility of a programme of contacts and exchanges between Gaelic speakers will be looked into. It is hoped that this will lay the foundation for a continuing programme which will consolidate existing links and increase mutual understanding and co-operation. The Government is particularly keen to encourage stronger connections between organisations responsible for teaching Gaelic in view of the crucial role that education has in ensuring the future of the language.

On 16 December 1997 the appointment was announced of the Scottish Co-ordinator for the Columba Initiative, Mr Donald MacLennan, who is based at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic College on Skye (Tel: 01471 844 373). The Initiative has a budget of £100,000 in 1998-99.

Northern Ireland Office and the Irish Government have both strongly endorsed the Initiative, and plans for Northern Ireland participation have been announced. The Ultacht Trust in Belfast has now made an appointment of a Northern Ireland project officer for the Initiative.

On 19 June 1997 the Government announced 3 interim measures to boost the status of Gaelic education and ensure that future planning by education authorities took account of the Government’s intentions. The Scottish Office consulted local authorities on the measures in August 1997. Local Authority responses to the consultation were announced on 26 March 1998.

1. The Government recognises Gaelic-medium secondary education as part of the natural educational progression and wishes to promote expansion while ensuring quality and continuity.

At the Royal National Mod in Inverness on 17 October 1997 The Scottish Office announced the results of research by Leirsinn on Gaelic teacher supply which holds the key to expansion of Gaelic-medium primary and secondary education. 143 teachers expressed an interest in teaching through the medium of Gaelic, with 68 of them expressing strong interest. Of these, 26 are currently working in the secondary sector and this compares with 25 secondary teachers currently involved in some form of Gaelic-medium provision.

As a follow-up to the Leirsinn findings, plans were announced to press ahead in 1998 with additional training opportunities for teachers to allow them to teach their subject through the medium of Gaelic. HM Inspectors of Schools and officials are presently discussing with local authorities ways of increasing the supply of secondary teachers able to teach subject specialisms through the medium of Gaelic at S1/S2. In 1998-99 £200,000 has been set aside for a training course for secondary teachers.

2. The Government wants Gaelic-medium pre-school provision to play a strong part in the delivery of its manifesto commitment to universal pre-school provision. The Scottish Office has consulted local authorities how they can ensure that, wherever viable, a Gaelic-medium pre-school service is available to complement existing or committed Gaelic-medium primary provision. In 1998-99 £300,000 has been ringfenced in a new scheme of specific grants for Gaelic pre-school education.

Direct Scottish Office support for Gaelic commenced in 1979-80 with a grant to An Comunn Gaidhealach, the organisers of the Royal National Mod. Comunn na Gaidhlig, the Gaelic development body, was set up in 1984 and has received funding from The Scottish Office since. A scheme of specific grants for Gaelic education was started in 1986. Funding for Gaelic broadcasting commenced in 1992. In addition to direct Scottish Office support, the language also receives some assistance through the Scottish Arts Council and the Enterprise Network: for instance in 1997-98 these sources totalled around £1 million.

Gaelic features at all levels of education: pre-school, primary, secondary, further and higher education, and as part of teacher training. Education through the medium of Gaelic is well established at pre-school, primary, and further education levels and there is growing provision at secondary level. The provision of Gaelic medium education, like all education provision in Scotland, is determined by demand for the service balanced by the educational and economic viability of each educational unit. Gaelic language and Gaelic medium education are not confined to the traditional Gaelic-speaking areas of Scotland but are also established in the main urban areas. The culture, history, religion and belief of national minorities can all be taught in the general curriculum which is determined locally by education authorities and the managers of educational units.

A scheme of specific grants for Gaelic education was introduced in 1986. Since then annual funding has increased from £250,000 to £2.134 million in 1997-98 and £2.234 million in 1998-99. In 1998-99 an additional £300,000 has been set aside for Gaelic pre-school education, £200,000 for a course to increase the supply of Gaelic-speaking secondary teachers, and £80,000 for the staffing costs of a National Resource Centre for Gaelic teaching materials, in addition to £25,000 for the development of secondary courses.

On 27 July 1998 The Scottish Office announced that, following the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, spending on Gaelic specific grant would increase by £200,000 per year from the current level, reaching £2.834 million in 2001-02. The Scottish Office also announced that the additional £300,000 per year for Gaelic pre-school and the £200,000 for teacher training, introduced in 1998-99, would be continued.

The table below shows numbers of Gaelic-medium education centres and pupils over recent years:

Under Section 23 of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, The Scottish Office gives financial support to a number of Gaelic organisations involved in promoting the language and culture totalling £388,795 in 1997-98. Funding for Gaelic cultural organisations will increase by £150,000 to £538,795 in 1998-99.

Comunn na Gaidhlig, the Gaelic development body, was set up in 1984 to promote and develop the Gaelic language and culture. It is the main advisory and executive body on Gaelic. Scottish Office funding will increase from £223,765 in 1997-98 by £30,000 to £253,765 in 1998-99 to fund a Gaelic parental officer. CNAG was awarded Investors in People status in 1997.

An Comunn Gaidhealach, which organises the annual Royal National Mod, is over 100 years old and has world-wide membership. The Scottish Office grant will increase from £60,000 in 1997-98 by £25,000 to £85,000 in 1998-99. ACG was awarded Investors in People status in 1997.

Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Araich, the Gaelic playgroups association, will receive an increase in grant from £66,200 in 1997-98 by £50,000 to £116,200 in 1998-99.

Proiseact nan Ealan, the National Gaelic Arts Project, will receive an increase in grant from £18,730 in 1997-98 by £20,000 to £38,730 in 1998-99.

Comann An Luchd-Ionnsachaidh, the Gaelic learners body, receives Scottish Office support in 1997-9 and 1998-99 of £20,100.

In addition to the above, The Scottish Office awarded a number of small grants to Gaelic organisations at the end of 1997-98: £10,000 to Proiseact nan Ealan for the production of children’s story tapes, £10,000 to Argyll College for a feasibility study into a Gaelic education centre on the Isle of Islay, £15,000 to the Gaelic Books Council for the purchase of school books and for the Council’s promotional work, and £10,000 to the European language Initiative for the production of a Gaelic-English dictionary of public sector terms.

The Broadcasting Act 1990 established the Gaelic Television Fund administered by a committee of the Independent Television Commission to grant-aid Gaelic television production. The Broadcasting Act 1996 extended the scope of the Gaelic Television Fund to cover radio and these new provisions came into effect on 1 April 1997 at which point the Committee changed its name to Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig (The Gaelic Broadcasting Committee). The budget for Gaelic broadcasting will be reduced from £9.05 million in 1997-98 to £8.5 million in 1998-99 in order to finance the Government’s main priorities in education.

All television companies have access to the fund: BBC Scotland, Scottish Television, Grampian Television, Channel 4, and independent producers. The Fund grant-aids around 150 hours of programmes annually. This is in addition to around 100 hours of Gaelic programmes provided by BBC Scotland, Scottish Television, and Grampian Television at their own expense.