Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005

2 National Gaelic language plan

(1) The Bòrd must—

(a) within 12 months of the commencement of this section,

(b) no later than 5 years after the date on which the most recent plan is published under subsection (7), and

(c) whenever required to do so by the Scottish Ministers,

prepare and submit to the Scottish Ministers a national Gaelic language plan which must include proposals as to the exercise of its functions under this Act.

(2) Those proposals must include a strategy for promoting, and facilitating the promotion of—

(a) the use and understanding of the Gaelic language, and

(b) Gaelic education and Gaelic culture.

(3) In preparing the plan, the Bòrd must—

(a) consult the Parliament,

(b) publish a draft of the plan,

(c) publicise the opportunity to make representations about the draft plan under subsection (4) within such period of not less than 3 months as the Bòrd may specify, and

(d) take into account any representations received by it within that period.

(4) Any person who wishes to make representations to the Bòrd about the draft plan may do so within the period specified in pursuance of subsection (3).

(5) The Scottish Ministers must, within 6 months of receiving the plan—

(a) approve the plan, or

(b) make such comments on the plan as they think fit and require the Bòrd to prepare and submit to them, within such period as they may specify, a further plan taking account of those comments.

(6) Where a further plan is submitted, the Scottish Ministers must, within 3 months of receiving it—

(a) approve the plan, or

(b) order the Bòrd to publish the plan in such terms as the Scottish Ministers think fit.

(7) On the plan being approved or, as the case may be, ordered to be published by the Scottish Ministers, the Bòrd must—

(a) publish it in such manner as it thinks fit, and

(b) lay a copy of it before the Parliament.