Question S3W-13213: Malcolm Chisholm, Edinburgh North and Leith, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19/05/2008

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 (29/05/2008): 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.

Question S3W-08781: Cathy Peattie, Falkirk East, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23/01/2008

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 (05/02/2008): I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-08782 on 5 February 2008 [below]

Question S3W-08783: Cathy Peattie, Falkirk East, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23/01/2008

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 (05/02/2008): I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-08782 on 5 February 2008 [below]

Question S3W-08782: Cathy Peattie, Falkirk East, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23/01/2008

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 (05/02/2008): 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 currentlyin 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 informationto 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 publicbodies 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, theMinister for Schools and Skills, and I have both met and corresponded with a range of Scots language organisations. This includes groups supported by the ScottishArts 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.