Scottish Languages Bill
The Bill gives the Gaelic and Scots languages official status in Scotland and makes changes to the support for the Gaelic and Scots languages in Scotland. This includes changes in relation to Gaelic and Scots education.
Tha am Bile a’ toirt inbhe oifigeil do Ghàidhlig agus Scots ann an Alba agus a’ dèanamh atharrachaidhean air an taic a chuirear ris a’ Ghàidhlig agus Scots ann an Alba. Tha seo a’ gabhail a-steach atharrachaidhean mu fhoghlam Gàidhlig agus Scots.
The Bill gies the Gaelic and Scots leids official staunin in Scotland and maks chynges tae the uphaudin o the Gaelic and Scots leids in Scotland. This includes chynges in relation tae Gaelic and Scots education.
The Bill is at Stage 1
Contents
Overview
Gaelic
The Bill requires Scottish Ministers to produce a Gaelic language strategy. This will replace the national Gaelic language plan currently produced by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Other measures in the Bill to support the use of Gaelic include:
- giving Scottish Ministers the power to set standards and give guidance for public authorities on promoting the use of Gaelic
- requiring Bòrd na Gàidhlig to report on progress in relation to the Gaelic language strategy
- requiring Bòrd na Gàidhlig to report on whether public authorities are complying with their duties to promote the use of Gaelic
- giving local authorities the power to make an area an “area of linguistic significance”. An area could be given this status if:
- at least 20% of the area’s population has Gaelic language skills
- the area has a historical connection with the use of Gaelic
- the area provides Gaelic education or hosts other significant Gaelic activity.
The Bill also makes changes to Gaelic language education. This includes:
- requiring Scottish Ministers to promote Gaelic education
- giving Scottish Ministers the power to set standards and give guidance on Gaelic education
- making clear that a local authority’s duty to provide education includes Gaelic education.
Scots
Measures in the Bill to support the use of the Scots language include:
- requiring Scottish Ministers to produce a Scots language strategy and to report on progress in relation to that strategy
- giving Scottish Ministers to the power to give guidance to public authorities on promoting the use of Scots
- requiring Scottish Ministers to promote Scots language education in schools
- giving Scottish Ministers the power to set standards and give guidance on Scots language education in schools.
Read more about what this Bill does in the Explanatory Notes (178KB, pdf) posted 29 November 2023
Why the Bill was created
The Scottish Government has introduced the Bill to improve support for Scotland’s indigenous languages, Gaelic and Scots.
Read more about why this Bill has been created in the Policy Memorandum (514KB, pdf) posted 29 November 2023
Geàrr-chunntas
Gàidhlig
Tha am Bile a’ cur dleastanas air Ministearan na h-Alba ro-innleachd a chur ri chèile airson na Gàidhlig. Thig seo an àite a’ phlana nàiseanta airson na Gàidhlig a bhios Bòrd na Gàidhlig ag ullachadh.
Am measg nan ceumannan eile sa Bhile gus taic a chur ri cleachdadh na Gàidhlig tha:
- a’ toirt a’ chumhachd do Mhinistearan na h-Alba inbhean a stèidheachadh agus stiùireadh a thoirt seachad airson ùghdarrasan poblach a thaobh mar a bhrosnaicheas iad cleachdadh na Gàidhlig
- a’ cur dleastanas air Bòrd na Gàidhlig aithisg a dhèanamh mu adhartas le ro-innleachd na Gàidhlig
- a’ cur dleastanas air Bòrd na Gàidhlig aithisg a dhèanamh a thaobh a bheil ùghdarrasan poblach a’ coileanadh nan dleastanasan a th’ orra gus taic a chur ri cleachdadh na Gàidhlig
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a’ toirt a’ chumhachd do dh’ùghdarrasan poblach sgìre a dhèanamh na “sgìre Ghàidhlig shònraichte”. Dh’fhaodte an inbhe seo a thoirt do sgìre mas e ’s gu bheil:
- comasan Gàidhlig aig co-dhiù 20% de shluagh na sgìre
- ceangal eachdraidheil aig an sgìre ri cleachdadh na Gàidhlig
- an sgìre a’ toirt seachad foghlam Gàidhlig no gu bheil gnìomhan brìoghmhor eile co-cheangailte ris a' Ghàidhlig a’ dol air adhart san sgìre.
Tha am Bile cuideachd a’ dèanamh atharrachaidhean air foghlam Gàidhlig. Tha seo a’ gabhail a-steach:
- a’ cur dleastanas air Ministearan na h-Alba foghlam Gàidhlig a chur air adhart
- a’ toirt a’ chumhachd do Mhinistearan na h-Alba inbhean a stèidheachadh agus stiùireadh a thoirt seachad mu fhoghlam Gàidhlig
- a’ dèanamh soilleir gu bheil an dleastanas a tha air ùghdarras poblach foghlam a thoirt seachad a’ gabhail a-steach foghlam Gàidhlig.
Scots
Am measg nan ceumannan eile sa Bhile gus taic a chur ri cleachdadh na Scots tha:
- a’ cur dleastanas air Ministearan na h-Alba ro-innleachd Scots a chur ri chèile agus aithisg a dhèanamh mu adhartas leis an ro-innleachd sin
- a’ toirt a’ chumhachd do Mhinistearan na h-Alba stiùireadh a thoirt seachad do dh’ùghdarrasan poblach air a bhith a’ cur air adhart cleachdadh na Scots
- a’ cur dleastanas air Ministearan na h-Alba foghlam Scots a chur air adhart anns na sgoiltean
- a’ toirt a’ chumhachd do Mhinistearan na h-Alba inbhean a stèidheachadh agus treòrachadh a thoirt seachad air foghlam Scots anns na sgoiltean.
Read more about what this Bill does in the Explanatory Notes (178KB, pdf) posted 29 November 2023
Carson a chaidh am Bile a chruthachadh
Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air am Bile a thoirt a-steach gus leasachadh a thoirt air an taic a thathar a’ cur ri cànanan dùthchasach na h-Alba, Gàidhlig agus Scots.
Read more about why this Bill has been created in the Policy Memorandum (514KB, pdf) posted 29 November 2023
Owerview
Gaelic
The Bill requires Scottish Ministers tae pit thegither a Gaelic leid straitegy. This will tak the place o the national Gaelic leid plan producit by Bòrd na Gàidhlig the noo.
Ither measures in the Bill fur tae forder the yaise o Gaelic include:
- gien Scottish Ministers the pooer tae set staunarts and gie guidance fur public authorities on forderin the yaise o Gaelic
- requirin Bòrd na Gàidhlig tae report on progress in relation tae the Gaelic leid straitegy
- requirin Bòrd na Gàidhlig tae report on whither public authorities are complyin wi their duties tae forder the yaise o Gaelic
- gien local authorities the pooer tae mak an area an “area o muckle linguistic mense”. An area could be gied this status gin:
- at least 20% o the area’s population has Gaelic leid skills
- the area has a historical connection wi the yaise o Gaelic
- the area provides Gaelic education or is hame tae ither mensefou Gaelic ongauns
The Bill maks chynges tae Gaelic leid education forby. This includes:
- requirin Scottish Ministers tae forder Gaelic education
- gien Scottish Ministers the pooer tae set staunarts and gie guidance on Gaelic education
- makkin clear that a local authority’s duty tae provide education includes Gaelic education.
Scots
Measures in the Bill fur tae forder the yaise o the Scots leid include:
- requirin Scottish Ministers tae pit thegither a Scots leid straitegy and tae report on progress in relation tae thon straitegy
- gien Scottish Ministers the pooer tae gie guidance tae public authorities on forderin the yaise o Scots
- requirin Scottish Ministers tae forder Scots leid education in schuils
- gien Scottish Ministers the pooer tae set staunarts and gie guidance on Scots leid education in schuils.
Read more about what this Bill does in the Explanatory Notes (178KB, pdf) posted 29 November 2023
Whit the Bill wis creatit fur
The Scottish Government has brocht in the Bill fur tae mak better the uphaudin o Scotland’s hamelt leids, Gaelic and Scots.
Read more about why this Bill has been created in the Policy Memorandum (514KB, pdf) posted 29 November 2023