Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 September 2024 [Draft]
17 Sep 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scottish Languages Bill: Stage 1
I commend the Deputy First Minister for opening the debate in Gaelic. When we speak about languages, it is really important for those who can to speak them in the Parliament. I have also always been an advocate for foreign languages in our schools.
In advance of giving my thoughts, I am keen to reflect on the fact that my predecessor, Donald Cameron, would have loved to have taken part in the debate. He would, no doubt, have responded in Gaelic. He would have loved to have scrutinised the bill and he would have enthusiastically participated in its progress through the Parliament. He would also have relished the opportunity to highlight his personal passion for Gaelic, given that it is the language of his forefathers and that, to this day, he remains committed to its survival and growth.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-14484, in the name of Kate Forbes, on the Scottish Languages Bill at stage 1. I invite members who wish t...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes)
SNP
Tha mi a’ cur fàilte air a’ chothrom gus an deasbad seo fhosgladh a thaobh a’ ghluasaid taic a chur ri prionnsapalan farsaing Bile nan Cànan Albannach. Do ...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
For the avoidance of doubt, I confirm that I will be speaking in English this afternoon, so members will not need their headsets. I am delighted to be speak...
Kate Forbes
SNP
The member has put on record her willingness for the committee to engage with me at stage 2 to address some its criticisms. I am keen to do that.
Sue Webber
Con
I thank the Deputy First Minister for her response. The change that has taken place in the leadership of who is responsible for the bill will help us to work...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
At stage 1, the Parliament considers a narrow point on whether to vote for or against the principles of a bill. In this case, it does so following considerat...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
Does Liam Kerr accept that the bill is, at least, a step in the right direction? He might want to go further or do things differently, but Scots being given ...
Liam Kerr
Con
No, I do not accept that. The bill does represent a step in the right direction, but not if we simply homogenise everything under one indivisible term. Both ...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Nearly 20 years after the first Gaelic language act, the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, the Scottish Languages Bill comes at a critical point for Scotl...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I thank the clerks for fixing my pass and apologise to colleagues on the Labour benches who were getting distracted by my doing laps around their desks. We ...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
On what the member says about measuring success, there is one thing that I think might be useful. The census used to ask, “Do you speak Scots?”, but now it a...
Ross Greer
Green
I am grateful to Emma Harper for that intervention, because the value of the census is massive. While the results from the most recent census told a pretty s...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
We move to the open debate. 15:04
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
It is interesting when you look at the debate. When I came to sit on the Education, Children and Young People Committee, it was nearing the end of its consid...
Liam Kerr
Con
The member makes a very good point in referring to what aspects of the 2005 act did not work. Can he point me to any report or any evidence that the Governme...
George Adam
SNP
I think that the Government has made it pretty obvious what we have to do to move forward with both languages: that is the point of having the bill. An impo...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
George Adam is giving a stout account of his constituency’s place in Gaeldom, but what is the one thing in the bill that will move the dial for Gaelic? The m...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
George Adam, I will give you the time back for the two interventions.
George Adam
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. The important part is that we are talking about it. Gaeldom is here, in the centre of the Scottish Government and the Parliamen...
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I commend the Deputy First Minister for opening the debate in Gaelic. When we speak about languages, it is really important for those who can to speak them i...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I will take any excuse to put on record my appreciation for Donald Cameron. We always sought to work together to ensure that Gaelic did not become overly pol...
Tim Eagle
Con
I am absolutely sure that he will. I know from my office staff that he felt that the bill was important. Although I do not have the same history with the Ga...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Emma Roddick, who joins us remotely. 15:16
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
I start by thanking the Deputy First Minister for meeting me earlier this month to discuss some potential ways to improve the bill.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Ms Roddick, can I halt you there? There is something up with your microphone or with the way that the sound is playing out in the chamber. The sound is comin...
Emma Roddick
SNP
Okay. Can you hear me now?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The sound is still coming through our headphones rather than through the chamber speakers.
Emma Roddick
SNP
I have tried turning off the interpretation, in case that is the problem.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The sound is now coming through both, but better that than it just coming through our headphones.
Emma Roddick
SNP
Are you happy with it coming through both?