Chamber and committees

It was a long time ago.

Do you mean for both Scots and Gaelic?

With respect, in what way is that meaningful for the economy? Will you quantify that? You have a reputation for being all over the economy piece, so you must have given some thought to the economic output of taking those measures.

I will just reflect on that briefly, to make sure that I have understood. The idea is that, with regard to Scots, existing teachers will be able to avail themselves of the Open University training and be able to teach in Scots. When they go back to their school, will they teach in English, as they have always done, or, now that they are trained in Scots, will they be expected to teach in Scots?

If I am reflecting properly, you seem to be saying that, in regard to Gaelic, we are not in 2004, when we were expecting local authorities to have due regard to Gaelic—

I will go back to Bill Kidd’s first question. Cabinet secretary, do you recognise the risk that some witnesses have suggested to the committee that, in talking about and defining Scots, the bill will standardise out what are very different dialects, such as Doric and Norn?

That is quite a key point—it is what I am asking about. With respect, I am not asking about what is there already. Given that new duties are apparently being created, I am asking what that means, so that the committee can produce a report. What does the bill actually mean and, therefore, from there, what will the extra cost be to our cash-strapped local authorities? With great respect, Douglas Ansdell, I think that what I am hearing is that you—the bill team and the cabinet secretary—are not in a position to give the committee an answer to those very important questions. Is that a fair reflection?

To stick with the question of Scots, you would like children to be exposed to that. Those were your words. Where will the teaching staff come from in a context of falling teacher numbers in many subjects and ever-smaller numbers of specialists in most subjects? Will those teachers come from an existing pool or will there be new ones and what is the projected cost of training them?

Yes. That was done 20 years ago. However, the bill brings in a due regard for Scots. Therefore, the cost that was incurred 20 years ago for Gaelic will now be incurred for Scots, will it not? That goes to Michelle Thomson’s point that the bill creates new costs.

Noted.