The Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025

Scottish Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 348 (C. 24)

SCOTTISH LANGUAGES

The Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025

Made

11th November 2025

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

13th November 2025

Coming into force

30th November 2025

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 48(2) and (3) of the Scottish Languages Act 2025(1)and all other powers enabling them to do so.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 30 November 2025.

(2) In these Regulations—

“the 2005 Act” means the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005(2),

“the 2016 Act” means the Education (Scotland) Act 2016(3),

“the Act” means the Scottish Languages Act 2025.

Appointed day

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), 30 November 2025 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Act specified in column 1 of the schedule of these Regulations (the subject matter of which is described in the corresponding entry in column 2 of the schedule).

(2) Where a purpose is specified in column 3 of the schedule, the corresponding provision specified in column 1 comes into force in accordance with paragraph (1) only for that purpose.

KATE FORBES

A member of the Scottish Government

St Andrew's House,

Edinburgh

11th November 2025

Regulation 2

Schedule Provisions to be commenced

Column 1 Provisions of the Act	Column 2 Subject matter	Column 3 Purpose
Section 1	Status of the Gaelic language
Section 2	Functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Section 7	Functions of relevant public authorities
Section 9(1)	Gaelic language plans
Section 9(2)(a)	Gaelic language plans	For the purpose of substituting section 3(3)(a) of the 2005 Act
Section 9(2)(b)	Gaelic language plans	For the purpose of substituting section 3(5)(a) of the 2005 Act
Section 9(2)(b)	Gaelic language plans	For the purpose of inserting section 3(5)(ab) of the 2005 Act
Section 9(2)(c)	Gaelic language plans
Section 9(6)	Gaelic language plans
Section 10	Financial assistance for the promotion etc. of the Gaelic language
Section 11	Scottish Ministers’ powers relating to research etc.
Section 12	Power to enforce duties of relevant public authorities
Section 13	Interpretation: meaning of relevant public authority
Section 14	Land rights and responsibilities statement: regard to be had to supporting Gaelic
Section 15	Duty of Scottish Ministers to promote Gaelic education
Section 16	Power for Scottish Ministers to set standards relating to Gaelic education
Section 17	Guidance to public authorities relating to Gaelic education	For the purpose of enabling the Scottish Ministers to consult on guidance under section 6C of the 2016 Act
Section 18	Production of school education resources in Gaelic
Section 19	General duty to provide education includes Gaelic education
Section 20	Duty to promote Gaelic education in exercising functions under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980
Section 23	Production of material relating to Gaelic education qualifications
Section 26	Transport to Gaelic medium education: application of Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010
Section 27	Assessments: power to make different provision for different areas
Section 31	Conditions of grants to the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council
Section 32(1)	Review of status of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Section 32(5)	Review of status of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Section 32(8)	Review of status of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Section 33	Status of the Scots language
Section 37	Power for Scottish Ministers to give guidance
Section 38	Financial assistance for the promotion etc. of the Scots language
Section 39	Scottish Ministers’ powers relating to research etc.
Section 41	Guidance to education authorities relating to Scots language education
Section 46	Interpretation of Chapter 2

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into force sections 1, 2, 7, 9(1), 9(2)(c), 9(6), 10 to 16, 18 to 20, 23, 26, 27, 31, 32(1), 32(5), 32(8), 33, 37 to 39, 41 and 46 of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 (“the Act”) for all purposes on 30 November 2025 (“the appointed date”).

These Regulations also bring into force the following provisions of the Act on the appointed date, for the purposes specified—

Section 9(2)(a), for the purpose of substituting section 3(3)(a) of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”).

Section 9(2)(b), for the purposes of substituting section 3(5)(a) of the 2005 Act, and inserting section 3(5)(ab) of the 2005 Act.

Section 17, for the purpose of enabling the Scottish Ministers to consult on guidance under section 6C of the Education (Scotland) Act 2016.

The Bill for the Act received Royal Assent on 31 July 2025. Section 48(1) of the Act brought into force Part 3 of the Act on the day after Royal Assent.

(1)

2025 asp 10.

(2)

2005 asp 7.

(3)

2016 asp 8.