Committee
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee 06 October 2022
06 Oct 2022 · S6 · Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Item of business
Cross-Party Group
Good morning to the convener and to everybody. I have a short wee introduction, which I will read out to keep myself accurate and on time. It is braw tae be here tae propose the restert o the cross-pairty group on the Scots language, or the Scots leid, alang wi ma colleague Jackie Dunbar MSP, whae hersel is a fantastic native spikker o Scots Doric. This is in oor ain national Pairlament. Scots is a language. It was ratified under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages by the United Kingdom Government in 2001 and it is recognised as an indigenous language by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. I pey tribute tae former MSP Rob Gibson, whae convened a Scots CPG in session fower o this place. He made great efforts tae advance Scots aa ower Scotland, and the statement of principles that were produced by his CPG—which I have here—are still relevant and valuable as a resource to build on. We want tae restert the CPG acause Scots is an important pairt o Scotland’s culture and heritage, appearin in sangs, poyums and leeteratur as weel as in modern-day yaise fae Shetland tae Stranraer. Quite simply, the Scots language is o a wheen importance tae Scottish identity. Scots wis the state language here afore 1603. Its importance, and the need tae continue tae protect and promote Scots, is clear and cannae be denied. In the 2011 Scottish census, 1.5 million people reported that they could speak Scots. I look forrit tae the census results next year, tae see whether the nummers are mair. Scots is baith a historical language and a vibrant, modern language. Literary giants sic as Robert Burns, Hugh MacDiarmid and Walter Scott wrote in Scots, and there are monie modern screivers whae mak me prood, tae, when I see whit they write and their confidence in takkin Scots forrit. However, Scots needs mair national attention, focus and political support. The cross-pairty group will, therefore, bring thegither folk fae the Scots community tae focus national attention—here and across the country—fur tae advance and promote speirin and scrievin in Scots. We want tae raise questions o, and provide clarity and guidance tae, the Scottish Government as it taks forrit the promised Scots language legislation in this session. Mair important, the CPG will work tae ensure that Scots is here fur generations aheid. We will work tae ensure that young folk hae the opportunity tae yaise Scots at schule, which has awready been shown tae lead tae mair than a scantie increase in attainment. We want tae inspire confidence in weans and bairns across wir country so that they can be chuffed when they yaise Scots, whether they are native speakers or no. As the main custodians o Scots, here where oor mither tongue and indigenous language stertit monie years ago, we hae a really important duty tae promote, protect and celebrate its contribution tae Scotland’s identity and future, even as Scots continues tae evolve. I therefore ask the staunnarts committee tae approve the CPG. We are happy tae tak onie questions fae memmers.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
For our second agenda item, I welcome representatives of a proposed cross-party group on the Scots language. Good morning to Jackie Dunbar and to Emma Harper...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Good morning to the convener and to everybody. I have a short wee introduction, which I will read out to keep myself accurate and on time. It is braw tae be...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you very much indeed. I open it up to questions from the committee.
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank Emma Harper for her presentation. She outlined that the purpose of the group is to promote and encourage Scots. However, the written application refe...
Emma Harper
SNP
My understanding is that the Scottish Government is proposing legislation relating to the Scots language. There is currently a consultation on Gaelic and Sco...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Having shared many discussions with Peter Chapman, I am always very conscious that there are different dialects. I will leave it there because, if I said any...
Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
I can spik only for masel, but I would say that I absolutely do. I am very careful in the cross-party groups that I pick. I mak sure that they have got tae d...
Edward Mountain
Con
You are convinced that you have enough time, with all your parliamentary commitments, to do it.
Jackie Dunbar
SNP
Absolutely.
Edward Mountain
Con
I put the same question to Emma Harper. We share the chairing of another cross-party group.
Emma Harper
SNP
I am aware that there are already 118 cross-party groups. I tried to merge a few of them, so that we would have better capacity. If we plan carefully, we wil...
Edward Mountain
Con
I am sure that it will be fun and worthwhile; it is simply about making sure that the commitment is right. I am sure that you are also aware of the reports t...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
I have a few questions. One of the purposes of the cross-party group is “to preserve, promote and encourage the use of the Scots Language amongst MSPs, the ...
Emma Harper
SNP
Thanks for that question. We have worked with the Scots Language Centre to see the work that it does and how it promotes and supports raising awareness of Sc...
Bob Doris
SNP
That is helpful. I was quite staggered by the number of individual members of the cross-party group. Sometimes, we are asking the opposite question: “You’ve...
Emma Harper
SNP
We have had a couple of meetings online. Because Scots is spoke fae Shetland tae Stranraer, we find that meeting online, rather than bringing everybody here,...
Bob Doris
SNP
The sheer extent of the potential membership is very encouraging. I have no more questions.
Collette Stevenson (East Kilbride) (SNP)
SNP
I have one question, which I always ask, and it is to do with the membership. It is an observation more than anything else. It is very welcome that it is an ...
Jackie Dunbar
SNP
Already done it, quine. We have Joe FitzPatrick. On Tuesday night, when he heard that we were comin along, he said, “Why am I nae in it?” I said, “Well, ye n...
Emma Harper
SNP
That is right. As well as men, we have people from diverse backgrounds. We have people whose first language mibbe wisnae Scots or who moved to this country ...
Jackie Dunbar
SNP
She meant the quines. Laughter.
Collette Stevenson
SNP
It is very heartening to hear that. Thank you very much.
The Convener
Lab
As convener, I always get to ask one exciting question. From the evidence that we have heard today, you are using Scots as a collective description for sever...
Jackie Dunbar
SNP
Aye, it is all Scots, whether ye spik the Buchan Doric that Peter Chapman used to spik in the chamber. I used to love it when he stood up and spoke, because ...
The Convener
Lab
Welcome and important.
Jackie Dunbar
SNP
Absolutely. 09:45
Emma Harper
SNP
That is one of the things that we were speaking about. I am learning about the language and the grammar—particularly the grammar that makes Scots different f...
The Convener
Lab
That is very helpful. Thank you, both, for attending the committee this morning. We will consider the application for the proposed CPG as our next agenda ite...
Edward Mountain
Con
I have never disagreed with any of the cross-party groups—it would be a brave MSP who did so. However, I always like to put on record that the number of cros...
Bob Doris
SNP
I share Mr Mountain’s sentiments, which would be put on record irrespective of which cross-party group was seeking approval this morning. We normally ask qu...