§ 4.8 p.m.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. This small Bill is to enable district councils in Scotland to contribute to the National Mod. This, as your Lordships probably know, was started in 1892, and its purpose was to encourage the use of the Gaelic language, both spoken and written, as well as a certain amount of music. At the present time, local authorities can help in two different ways. First, under Section 132 of the Local Government Act 1948 district councils can contribute to the expenses of a Mod if it is held in the area of the local authority concerned or if it is held in a place which is convenient for residents of the local authority to go to. The second way is under Section 339 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947, which provides that county and town councils may contribute with the approval of the Secretary of State. The can contribute up to the cost of a 2d. rate, I think, for this purpose.
But under this arrangement one of the strongest Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland does not rank for grant for Mod. I refer to the Island of Lewis, which would not come in under these two provisions. The powers sought in this Bill are only permissive; there will be no compulsion on a local authority to contribute. All Welsh authorities, of all sorts, can contribute to the funds of the National Eisteddfod which is held at Llangollen. It may be said that Gaelic speakers in Scotland are not great in number; but in the Western Isles and in parts of the Highlands it is the normal speech. About 1-.1: million viewers saw the Mod on television and about 12,000 people actually attended the performance; and that is out of a population of about 5 million.
The district councils in that part of Scotland where Gaelic is spoken wish to have the power to contribute to the funds of the Mod. As I have already said, not a great deal of money is involved. The object of these exercises is to restore 480 and to maintain life in the Highlands with the tradition and vitality which are kept going by those who speak Gaelic. In this way one can produce something to ensure that the Highlands survive as a part of Scotland by itself and are not to be regarded as a part or appendage or extension of Edinburgh and Glasgow. There is no question of the Bill being concerned in the starting of compulsory teaching of Gaelic in Scotland. It is merely that the district councils shall be able to contribute funds if they think fit. I do not want to touch on the effect it might have on tourism in the Highlands; but I certainly think that what we can do to encourage this national Mod, which has been held in quite a number of towns in Scotland in the course of the last sixty or so years, we should do. I therefore trust that these few words will enable your Lordships to give the Bill a Second Reading. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Amuiree.)
THE EARL OF MANSFIELDMy Lords, I hope that this Bill will receive an unopposed Second Reading. As the noble Lord who moved it said, it will help to preserve the Gaelic language; but I think that most of the people who listened to the Mod, either by going to it or by means of wireless, were interested in the Gaelic music. It is very important that this, too, should be preserved. This is an admirable measure which ought to merit your Lordships' support.
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, we too on this Bench should like to support this Bill. One very good reason for this is that it seems a little illogical and absurd that the right to give financial support to the Mod should depend on where it happens to be held in a particular year. This is a national Mod and I think it only reasonable that it be generally supported by every local authority that wishes to support it.
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, the Government are happy to give a welcome to this Bill. I should point out that An Comunn Gaidhealach receives an annual grant from the Scottish Education Department under the Further Education (Scotland) Regulations 1959, to help meet its administrative expenses. In 1967, the grant was £1,000. This has been increased over the past two years and in 481 1969 the grant will he £7,000. So in giving support to this further measure of financial assistance to the Mod, the Government are being consistent in their policy.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I should like to thank those noble Lords who spoke in support of this little Bill. There is nothing further that I wish to say.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.