Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament am ar 12 Mehefin 2024.
Alasdair Allan
Scottish National Party
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published data from Scotland’s census on the number of people with Gaelic language skills.
Gus faighneachd do Riaghaltas na h-Alba dè a bheachd a th’ aige air na figearan a chaidh fhoillseachadh o chionn ghoirid bho cunntas-sluaigh na h-Alba a thaobh an àireamh de dhaoine aig a bheil sgilean sa Ghàidhlig? (S6O-03549)
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ cur fàilte air an àrdachadh air luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig sa chunntas-shluaigh—a’ chiad uair bho 1971 nach fhacar ìsleachadh san àireimh sin. Tha seo a’ sealltainn an adhartais a rinneadh le obair às leth na Gàidhlig ann am foghlam, craoladh agus planadh coimhearsnachd is cànain. Ach, tha sinn ag aithneachadh nan duilgheadasan èiginneach a tha fhathast ann—agus sin follaiseach bho mar a thuit àireamh luchd-labhairt nan eilean. ’S e an dùbhlan fuasgladh fhaighinn air na duilgheadasan seo gus am bi Gàidhlig seasmhach nar n-eileanan agus a’ fàs air feadh Alba.
The Scottish Government welcomes the rise in Gaelic speakers recorded by the census. This is the first census since 1971 not to show a decline in speakers, and that demonstrates the progress being made in education, broadcasting and the community, but we recognise the urgent difficulties still facing the language—something that was highlighted by the on-going decline in speakers in our island communities. Our challenges lie in tackling those difficulties to ensure that Gaelic is sustained within island communities while enjoying growth across the whole of Scotland.
Alasdair Allan
Scottish National Party
Ged a tha e fìor mhath fhaicinn gu bheil deagh bhuaidh air a bhith aig goireasan ùra airson luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig, mar a thuirt am ministear, tha na figearan ag innse sgeulachd eadar-dhealaichte ann an sgìrean far a bheil, neo far an robh o chionn ghoirid, a’ Ghàidhlig air a cleachdadh gu làitheil.
An urrainn don rùnaire barrachd a chantainn mu dheidhinn ciamar a tha na figearan seo, a’ sealltainn crionnadh de luchd-labhairt ann an sgìrean Ghàidhlig, dol a thoirt buaidh air poileasaidh an Riaghaltas a thaobh taic làidir a stèidheachadh gus a’ Ghàidhlig a dhìon airson an àm ri teachd?
While it is welcome to see the impact of new and accessible resources for Gaelic learners on the overall number of speakers, the statistics tell another story in the Gaelic heartlands, as the Cabinet secretary said. Can the cabinet secretary say how census data showing a decline in the number of Gaelic speakers in those communities will impact on the Scottish Government’s policy strategy to support the language’s long-term survival?
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba ag aithneachadh gu bheil e fìor chudromach dèiligeadh ri lùghdachadh àireamh luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig sna coimhearsnachdan seo. An-dràsta tha sinn a’ leasachadh dà dhòigh-obrach poileasaidh ùr a th’ air am fiosrachadh le toraidhean a’ chunntais-shluaigh is a tha a’ cur taic ris a’ chànan aig ìre na coimhearsnachd. ’S e na sgìrean cànain sònraichte a thèid a chur an sàs le Bile nan Cànan Albannach ceum a dh’ionnsaigh ath-bheòthachadh cànain a tha stèidhichte air a’ choimhearsnachd.
Nar freagairt don bhuidhinn-obrach gheàrr-bheatha air cothromanan eaconamach is sòisealta don Ghàidhlig bidh sinn a’ dèiligeadh ris na cùisean eaconamach nas doimhne a tha sònraichte ris na coimhearsnachdan dùthchail is eileanach air an tug sibh iomradh. Tha iad seo a’ togail air iomairtean a tha mu thràth an sàs leithid poileasaidh “Gàidhlig mar Chiad Chànan” Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar is an obair a tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig a’ leantainn le buidhnean ionadail gus planaichean Gàidhlig coimhearsnachd ullachadh ann an Uibhist agus Leòdhas.
Agus anns a’ Bheurla: the Scottish Government recognises the urgency of addressing the decline. We will do that through the Scottish Languages Bill and through the short-life working group, building on existing initiatives such as the Gaelic first policy in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
