Written Parliamentary Questions on Scots (Current Session)

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found here.

S3W-28520 Dave Thompson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in order to fulfil its responsibilities under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, it requires accurate information on the status of the Scots language and, if so, whether the census will include adequate questions on Scots.

Answered by Michael Russell (Monday, November 09, 2009): Accurate information on the numbers of Scots speakers would contribute to the Scottish Government making progress with other Scots undertakings in Part II of the Council of Europe''s Charter for Regional and Minority languages. In relation to the census, Parliament will be asked later this year to approve the final choice of questions.

S3W-21111 Christina McKelvie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce a Scots translation of Choosing Scotland’s Future: A National Conversation: Independence and responsibility in the modern world.
Answered by Michael Russell (Tuesday, March 17, 2009): A summary of Choosing Scotland''s Future: A National Conversation: Independence and responsibility in the modern world has been translated into Scots and can be found on the Scottish Government website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/a-national-conversation/Translated-Summaries.

The Scottish Government is demonstrating its commitment to the development of Scots through initiatives such as the publication of the audit of Scots language activity; the Scots language seminar held on 9 February 2009 and our financial support for two important Scots language bodies*. We are considering, in light of these initiatives, further actions to support the development of Scots.

*Scottish language Dictionaries and Scottish Language Centre.

S3W-21039 Christina McKelvie: To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to take forward the recommendations contained in the report, Audit of Current Scots Language Provision in Scotland.

Answered by Michael Russell (Thursday, March 05, 2009): It is clear to me that the recommendations contained in the report of the Audit of Current Scots Language Provision in Scotland cannot be taken forward seriously without involving the Scots language community.

My predecessor Linda Fabiani also shared this view, and shortly after publication of the audit hosted a conference on 9 February 2009 for individuals and organisations with an interest in Scots language matters, where the findings of the research were formally presented and possible ways forward to better promote and develop the Scots language in future were discussed.

I intend to capitalize on the suggestions and views expressed by delegates at the conference and as a next step will soon carry out more focused consultation on the emerging issues with representatives from the Scots language community.

S3W-21040 Christina McKelvie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will institute ongoing monitoring of provision of support for the Scots language in order to build on the work done in the audit of current provision for the Scots language.

Answered by Michael Russell (Thursday, March 05, 2009): The Audit of Current Provision for the Scots Language was not intended to be exhaustive and could not capture every single act of provision in Scotland during the time available to the staff undertaking the research. However, the Scottish Government recognises the potential that such a resource offers to policy makers and language practitioners, and will take steps to enable individuals or organisations whose acts of provision were not captured in the first instance by the audit to send reports on their activities. Our intention is that the table of provision contained within the audit becomes a living document, so that a broader picture of provision in Scotland may be presented throughout the year, as reported by Scots language providers.

S3W-19867 Karen Whitefield: To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions (a) officials and (b) Scottish ministers have met representatives of (i) Scottish Language Dictionaries, (ii) the Scots Language Centre and (iii) Itchy Coo since May 2008.

Answered by Linda Fabiani (Friday, February 06, 2009): During this period officials and Ministers from the Scottish Government, as well as officials from the Scottish Arts Council, have met representatives from these organisations on a number of occasions.

S3W-19868 Karen Whitefield: To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Scots Language Audit Research Advisory Group.

Answered by Linda Fabiani (Friday, February 06, 2009): The Research Advisory Group comprises the following members:

Janet Ruiz, Principal Research Officer, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Analytical Services, Scottish Government

Julie Carr, Senior Research Officer, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Analytical Services, Scottish Government

Michael Napier, Policy Officer, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Directorate, Scottish Government

Emma Wilson, Policy Adviser, Schools Directorate, Scottish Government

Matthew Fitt, Itchy Coo

James Robertson, Itchy Coo.

S3W-19869 Karen Whitefield: To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the Scots Language Audit Research Advisory Group has met.

Answered by Linda Fabiani (Friday, February 06, 2009): The Research Advisory Group met four times in an advisory capacity to facilitate the research process for the audit and to provide relevant contacts in the Scots language sector to the contracted researcher.

S3W-19870 Karen Whitefield: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the recommendations of the Scots Language Audit Research Advisory Group.

Answered by Linda Fabiani (Friday, February 06, 2009): It is not within the remit of the Research Advisory Group to make recommendations in respect of the audit. The audit report and findings were published on 27 January and can be viewed on the Scottish Government''s website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/01/23133726/0.

The Scottish Government is hosting a one-day conference at the University of Stirling on 9 February to formally present the findings of the audit to interested parties and to enable discussion of possible ways forward for promoting and developing the Scots language in future.

S3W-13213 Malcolm Chisholm: To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will provide to Scottish Language Dictionaries when funding from the Scottish Arts Council is discontinued at the end of 2008-09.

Answered by Linda Fabiani (Thursday, May 29, 2008): I have recently commissioned an audit of the measures that are currently in place to promote the Scots language and what opportunities exist to make further progress. The Scottish Government's future funding priorities for Scots provision will be considered within the context of this audit and its outcome and I will, at that stage, examine how we can assist this extremely important sector of Scottish culture.

S3W-8781 Cathy Peattie:## To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has met representatives of Scottish Arts Council-supported Scots language organisations and, if not, when the minister plans to do so.
##Answered by Linda Fabiani (Tuesday, February 05, 2008):## I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8782 on 5 February 2008.

##S3W-8782 Cathy Peattie:## To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to apply the provisions of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages to the Scots language.
##Answered by Linda Fabiani (Tuesday, February 05, 2008):## Scots is a valuable part of our cultural life. I am keen to see its use promoted in education, the arts and literature. For this reason I have asked for an audit of what measures are currently in place to promote the Scots language, and what opportunities exist to make further progress.

The cycle of reporting for the Third Periodic Report on the Council of Europe Charter for Regional and Minority Languages has commenced and the Scottish Government will be providing information to the Council of Europe in connection with the undertakings which have been agreed for Gaelic and Scots.

In connection with the Scots language, the Scottish Government will be writing to authorities and public bodies to remind them of the Charter undertakings and to ask what provision is in place in their areas. At a later stage we will be informing the Council of Europe of the terms of our proposed audit of Scots language provision and the progress we hope to make with this in connection with our Charter undertakings.

My colleague, the Minister for Schools and Skills, and I have both met and corresponded with a range of Scots language organisations. This includes groups supported by the Scottish Arts Council and others.

The fundamental aim behind the United Nation’s International Year of Languages, 2008, is the preservation and promotion of linguistic diversity. We share this aim, welcome this initiative and will encourage local authorities and schools to engage with national and international initiatives such as this.

The proposals in the previous administration’s report, A Strategy for Scotland’s Languages, are being taken forward by a range of business areas within the Scottish Government.

##S3W-8783 Cathy Peattie:## To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to mark the UN’s International Year of Languages 2008, with particular reference to activities and events that promote and encourage the Scots language.
##Answered by Linda Fabiani (Tuesday, February 05, 2008):## I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8782 on 5 February 2008.

##S3W-5124 Tavish Scott:## To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4117 by Linda Fabiani on 26 September 2007, whether it has any plans to consult dialect interest groups and other bodies on the development of policies to support and encourage the use of local dialects and, if so, when the consultation will take place, what form it will take and which groups and bodies will be consulted.
##Answered by Linda Fabiani (Wednesday, October 31, 2007):## The Scottish Government is committed to promoting and encouraging the use of Scots in all its regional forms in education, broadcasting and the arts. As stated in the answer to question S3W-4117 on 26 September 2007, we have no plans for a formal consultation on the use of dialects in Scotland but would always welcome the views of groups and individuals on this subject.

##S3W-5125 Tavish Scott:## To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4117 by Linda Fabiani on 26 September 2007, whether it has any policies for supporting and encouraging the use of local dialects in Scotland, including in Shetland, and, if so, what these policies are.
##Answered by Linda Fabiani (Wednesday, October 31, 2007):## I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-5124 on 31 October 2007.

##S3W-5126 Tavish Scott:## To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4117 by Linda Fabiani on 26 September 2007, what plans it has to develop policies for supporting and encouraging the use of local dialects in Scotland, including in Shetland.
##Answered by Linda Fabiani (Wednesday, October 31, 2007):## I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-5124 on 31 October 2007.

##S3W-4117 - Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD) (Date Lodged 7 September 2007):## To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policies for Scotland's languages will reflect the diversity and vigour of Scotland's many dialects.
##Answered by Linda Fabiani (26 September 2007):## The Scottish Government will seek to promote the richness and diversity of the languages spoken in Scotland in their different forms. Good progress is being made in a number of areas of language activity and promotion within Scotland and we intend to build on and strengthen this. The submissions to the previous administration's consultation on a strategy for Scotland's languages have been useful and helpful but Scottish ministers have no current plans to respond to these nor to develop or consult on a single strategy for all the languages spoken in Scotland.

##Bill Wilson:## ... as you know, convener, at the away day I raised several times the issue of the Scots language. I would like to know fairly soon whether the Executive has any particular strategies on that and how it proposes to ensure equality for Scots language speakers. In the past, the Scots language has been neglected and its issues have not been raised -- they have been quietly dropped. I do not want them to be dropped in the Parliament. Although I accept the suggestion that there is no point in asking for the strategy just now, I would like some kind of note to be passed forward, saying that the issue of the Scots language should be raised. ##(col 10 Equal Opportunities Committee meeting, 11 September 2007)##