Scottish Languages Act 2025

6 Gaelic language standards

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

(2) After section 2B (as inserted by section 5(3)) insert—

“2C Power for Scottish Ministers to set standards

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify standards and requirements relating to promoting, facilitating and supporting the use of the Gaelic language which are to apply to relevant public authorities in exercising their functions.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular—

(a) include provision about the following aspects of exercising functions—

(i) the preparation of publications,

(ii) the provision of information,

(b) include provision about how the functions of relevant public authorities are to be exercised in areas designated under section 1B as areas of linguistic significance,

(c) otherwise make different provision for different areas (including different parts of the area in which a relevant public authority exercises its functions),

(d) make different provision for different purposes.

(3) Provision made by virtue of subsection (2)(b) may in particular include provision about the exercise of functions relating to—

(a) the development of the Gaelic language,

(b) the provision of education,

(c) community planning,

(d) community development,

(e) economic development.

(4) Before laying a draft of a Scottish statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (1) before the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Ministers must—

(a) publish a draft of the standards and requirements to be specified by regulations under subsection (1), and

(b) consult—

(i) the Bòrd,

(ii) local authorities, and

(iii) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate,

on the draft standards and requirements published under paragraph (a).

(5) The Scottish Ministers must publish the results of the consultation undertaken under subsection (4).

(6) Regulations under subsection (1) are subject to the affirmative procedure.

(7) The Scottish Ministers must, before the end of the period of one year beginning with the day on which section 6(2) of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 comes into force, lay before the Scottish Parliament for approval by resolution a draft Scottish statutory instrument containing the first regulations under subsection (1).

(8) If the Scottish Parliament approves the draft Scottish statutory instrument, the Scottish Ministers must make the regulations contained in the draft instrument.

(9) In this section “local authority” has the meaning given in schedule 1 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.”.