Question S5O-04031: Peter Chapman, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative

Date lodged: 15th January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports traditional culture in the north-east.

Answered by Fiona Hyslop, 22nd January 2020:

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting and promoting traditional Scottish culture and the Scots language.

We fund a variety of groups and initiatives that are supporting the Scots language and traditional culture across Scotland and in the north-east—such as the Doric Board, which offers financial awards of between £250 and £1,000 to provide support to projects that promote Doric culture and heritage, and “Scots Radio”, which broadcasts in Scots and engages with the Scots speaking community. Together, they have also successfully established Aberdeenshire’s first ever Doric Film Festival.

Creative Scotland provides regular funding to a variety of arts and cultural groups in the north-east area—such as the Aberdeen Performing Arts, Dance North Scotland, Creative Dundee, Deveron Projects, Dundee Contemporary Arts and the Dundee Repertory Theatre. In addition, the Scots trad music awards took place in Aberdeen last year with funding from Creative Scotland and support from MG Alba.

Question S5O-04792: Clare Adamson, Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 18 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake has been for the new Scots Language Award at SCQF Levels 3-6. 

Answered by John Swinney, 25th November 2020:

The Scots language award was introduced in the 2014-15 academic year. Since then, there has been a positive increase in the number of young people who have attained a pass in the award at SCQF levels 3 to 6. In its first year, in 2015, there were 54 passes in the award, and that number has increased substantially to 418 in 2020.

However, that does not tell the whole story, as many schools and centres choose to use only some of the units that make up the award as part of their studies. Therefore, the number of young people who have the opportunity to learn and engage with the Scots language is far higher. The Scottish Government continues to work with the Scottish Qualifications Authority and stakeholders to promote the award and Scots in education.