§ 3. Mr. Alasdair Mackenzieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the decision of district councils in the Western Isles to give Gaelic equal validity with English in the conduct of business, and of the need for the status of the native language of Scotland to be clarified, if he will set up a commission to look into this matter.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. William Ross)I do not think that the appointment of a commission would be justified.
§ Mr. MackenzieAs there is so much evidence of growing interest in the language, would the Secretary of State consider looking at this further or, by some other means, giving further incentive to those who are doing so much for the future of the language?
§ Mr. RossI welcome the indication from the hon. Gentleman's Question that there is growing interest. He will be aware that, following the meeting which I had with the deputation from An Comunn, we have already announced that we shall be doubling the grant for the year 1967 from £500 to £1,000.