Motion S4M-13939: Colin Beattie, Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 13/08/2015

Scotland's First National Scriever

That the Parliament congratulates Hamish MacDonald, a writer, poet and playwright, on his appointment as Scotland's first national Scriever; understands that the two-year residency post is intended to raise awareness and appreciation of the Scots language; further understands that Mr MacDonald will write new work in Scots, including its variants and dialects, and wishes him all the best in this role.

Motion S4M-12207: Jean Urquhart, Highlands and Islands, Independent, Date Lodged: 29/01/2015

Bjorn Sandison and the Shetland Language

That the Parliament congratulates Bjorn Sandison on receiving £9,976 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme to publish his book, The Mystery at da Laird’s Haa, a children’s adventure story in the Shetland language; welcomes the news that the award will allow the book to be distributed to all Shetland schoolchildren between seven and 12 years of age; notes that the Shetland language is descended from the Scots, English and Norn languages; considers that the award is a welcome reflection of the importance of supporting the Shetland language, and calls on the UK Government to extend the provisions of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages to the Shetland language.