Scottish Languages Act 2025

5 National Gaelic language strategy

(1) The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 is modified as follows.

(2) In the italic heading immediately preceding section 2, for “National Gaelic language plan” substitute “National Gaelic language strategy and standards”.

(3) After section 2 insert—

“2A National Gaelic language strategy

(1) The Scottish Ministers must prepare a national Gaelic language strategy.

(2) The national Gaelic language strategy—

(a) must set out the Scottish Ministers’ objectives in relation to promoting, facilitating and supporting the use of the Gaelic language,

(b) must impose targets on the Scottish Ministers in relation to promoting, facilitating and supporting the use of the Gaelic language,

(c) must set out the Scottish Ministers’ plans for meeting those objectives and targets, including priorities for action,

(d) must set out arrangements for monitoring progress towards meeting the objectives and targets, including—

(i) how such progress will be measured,

(ii) arrangements for gathering data to allow progress to be measured,

(e) may set out any other matters relating to promoting, facilitating and supporting the use of the Gaelic language which the Scottish Ministers consider should be included.

(3) Targets set out in the national Gaelic language strategy may in particular relate to—

(a) number of persons using the Gaelic language in households,

(b) number of children living in households using the Gaelic language,

(c) number of businesses, schools or other bodies using the Gaelic language as the main language,

(d) education and training in or through the medium of the Gaelic language,

(e) activity relating to the Gaelic language or Gaelic culture.

(4) In preparing the national Gaelic language strategy, the Scottish Ministers must have regard to the principle that the Gaelic and English languages should be accorded equal respect.

(5) In preparing the national Gaelic language strategy, the Scottish Ministers must publish a draft strategy and consult such persons as they consider appropriate.

(6) When publishing a draft strategy under subsection (5), the Scottish Ministers must also publicise the arrangements for making representations about the draft strategy.

(7) The Scottish Ministers must—

(a) publish the results of the consultation undertaken under subsection (5),

(b) publish the national Gaelic language strategy in such manner as they consider appropriate, and

(c) lay a copy of the strategy before the Scottish Parliament.

(8) Subsection (7) must be complied with before the end of the period of 15 months beginning with the day on which section 5(3) of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 comes into force.

(9) The Scottish Ministers—

(a) must keep the national Gaelic language strategy under review,

(b) may revise it as they consider appropriate, and

(c) must revise it within the period of five years beginning with the day on which the strategy was last published.

(10) Subsections (2) to (7) and (9) apply in relation to any revised national Gaelic language strategy as they apply in relation to the first national Gaelic language strategy.

2B Effect of national Gaelic language strategy

(1) The Scottish Ministers must have regard to the national Gaelic language strategy in—

(a) making policies (including proposals for legislation), and

(b) exercising their functions.

(2) A relevant public authority must have regard to the national Gaelic language strategy in exercising its functions.”.

(4) Section 2 is repealed.