Chamber and committees

Do you think that Gaelic education, and specifically what the bill proposes, including on standards, is enough to arrest the decline in the Gaelic language?

Some of what you just described is already being done. Like Inge, I welcome some of the changes that you have spoken about.

Is there anything in the bill that needs to change in order for it to deliver what you think it needs to deliver for Gaelic-medium education?

Do you think that the specific focus on education is enough to do what the bill needs to do—in particular, to address the required urgency that you speak about in your submission?

Have your members been involved with the development of the proposals in the bill?

What do you believe is preventing a greater uptake of the range of SQA qualifications in the area?

Thank you. It is really helpful to understand the depth of work that is going on.

You spoke briefly about housing, tourism and the economy, and the short-life working group on economic and social opportunities for Gaelic. Do any of those issues and, in particular, some of the working group’s recommendations come within the scope of the bill?

That is really helpful. Do you think, though, that any provision specifically in the bill takes in the broader issues that we have just discussed, or could amendments that would be within the scope of the legislation be made to do that?

That is fair enough. I suppose that I am asking you to help us to understand why the bill is an education bill. We have a lot of evidence about—

Good morning. I have a question about the scope of the bill—and, in particular, cross-portfolio working. It is clear that cross-portfolio working will be necessary. How much of that have you already done, and how do you think it will work in practice across Government?

Thank you. That is helpful.