Question S2W-27704: Maureen Watt, North East Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/08/2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place between civil servants and Scots language organisations in connection with the development of the national languages strategy, since February 2006.

Answered by Patricia Ferguson (28/08/2006): Scottish ministers intend toissue the National Language Strategy for consultation later this year and to have it finalised within the life of this Parliament. This timetable is consistent withthe Executive’s commitments set out in the Partnership Agreement for a BetterScotland. This will provide the opportunity for organisations representing the regional forms of Scots to submit their views to the Scottish Executive.

Since February 2006, Scottish Executive officials have met with the representatives of two Scots language organisations. At present there are no plans for further specific meetings with Scots language organisations before the draft National Language Strategy is published.

Question S2W-27707: Maureen Watt, North East Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/08/2006

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to set up a Scots language advisory group with responsibility for assisting it with the development of appropriate policies to support the Scots language.

Answered by Patricia Ferguson (28/08/2006): The Scottish Executive’s consultation on the National Language Strategy will provide the opportunity for organisationsrepresenting the regional forms of Scots to submit their views to the Scottish Executive.Following Scottish ministers’ consideration of all of the views submitted on the strategy we expect to publish a final version of the National Language Strategy and take any other steps which we consider necessary. At this stage we have no plans to set up a Scots language advisory group.

Question S2W-27710: Maureen Watt, North East Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/08/2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants are working on the development of policies to promote and develop the Scots language.

Answered by Patricia Ferguson (28/08/2006): The principal responsibility for Scots language issues, as well as for co-ordinating the development of the wider National Language Strategy, rests with the Cultural Policy Division of the Scottish Executive’s Education Department. Five civil servants are directly employed within the Division’s Language Unit, whilst others have responsibility for literature and broadcasting. However, a wide range of other officials in the Scottish Executive and Scottish public bodies have duties relating to language issues.

Question S2O-10053: Cathy Peattie, Falkirk East, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/05/2006

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an update on the development of the national languages strategy and its arrangements for consulting Scots language organisations on this matter.

Answered by Patricia Ferguson (01/06/2006): A draft of the National Languages Strategy is in preparation within the Scottish Executive. I expect that we shall publish the strategy after the summer recess, enabling Scots language organisations amongst others to comment on our proposed approach.

Question S2W-25523: Maureen Watt, North East Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 02/05/2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it has given to organisations to promote Doric or Lallan Scots in each year since the inception of the Parliament.

Answered by Patricia Ferguson (16/05/2006): The Scottish Executive considers Scots and its regional forms to be an important part of Scotland’s distinctive linguistic and cultural heritage. The Scottish Executive does not offer financial support directly to organisations for the purpose of promoting Scots. Such support is provided principally through the Scottish Arts Council’s(SAC) literature department and I will ask the Chair of the SAC to write to the member with this information. Details of grants made by the SAC to organisations promoting Doric or Lallans Scots are not centrally collated.

Question S2W-25524: Maureen Watt, North East Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 02/05/2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what support or encouragement it has given to VisitScotland or other tourist bodies to promote Doric or Lallan Scots language tourism.

Answered by Patricia Ferguson (12/05/2006): The Scottish Executive considers Scots and its regional forms to be an important part of Scotland’s distinctive linguisticand cultural heritage. VisitScotland is therefore encouraged to promote Scots language tourism where it is appropriate to do so. For example, VisitScotland supports theDoric Festival which takes place in and around Aberdeen every autumn, and EventScotland supports a number of events celebrating the work of Robert Burns. Celebrating the life and work of Burns will also be one of the themes of Year of Homecoming in 2009.