HC Deb 07 May 1980 vol 984 cc267-8
Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to provide full official recognition to the Gaelic language in parity with the position accorded to the Welsh language.

Mr. Younger

I fully appreciate the importance of the Gaelic language, and will do what I can to encourage its use where appropriate.

Mr. Stewart

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he aware that one of his Friends recently said that Gaelic is not one of the indigenous languages of Scotland, and that a Labour Member said that the number of Gaelic speakers was falling? Both those statements are totally inaccurate. I thank him for the assistance which he was able to give to An Comunn Gaidhealach, but does not he think that it is now time that the Gaelic language was put on a proper, official footing?

Mr. Younger

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, and, although I do not share with him a knowledge of Gaelic, I share with him an appreciation of its importance to many people in Scotland. As to it being officially recognised, there is no difficulty in using the Gaelic lan guage in courts—such as in giving evidence and so on—and care is always taken, where appropriate, to ensure that interpreters are present. I think that that is the right way to approach the matter.

Mr. Maclennan

Is the Secretary of State aware that if he does not come to grips with the need to tackle the land use question in the Highlands, not only will there be no Gaelic speakers in the area but there will also be no English speakers either?

Mr. Younger

I do not really think that the absence or presence of compulsory powers for the Highlands and Islands Development Board has anything much to do with the encouragement of the Gaelic language.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Does the Secretary of State recall receiving Mr. Donald MacCuish of An Comunn Gaidhealach along with the right hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) and myself, and his description of the precarious position of Gaelic? Once a language dies, it cannot be brought back. Surely he agrees that a language which is in such a dangerous position requires more Government assistance and not less.

Mr. Dalyell

Why does not the hon. Gentleman go on hunger strike?

Mr. Younger

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern. He may be aware that the total support which is given from public sources to Gaelic, including that from the Arts Council, is about £100,000 a year. I think that that is a fair measure of the importance which we attach to it.