§ Sir IAN MACPHERSONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils in the county of Sutherland took Gaelic for their school-leaving certificate last year; what facilities are provided at the secondary schools of Sutherland to enable children to take the course for Celtic studies at the universities; and what encouragement is being given to Gaelic teachers in Sutherland to perfect themselves in modern methods of Gaelic teaching?
§ Sir G. COLLINSNo pupils in, the county of Sutherland took Gaelic at the leaving certificate examination last year. No course in Gaelic is provided at any of the secondary schools in Sutherland, for the reason that the number of pupils desiring to take such a course is so very small that its provision would not be justified. The education authority give favourable consideration to applications for bursaries tenable outwith the county at a secondary school where a course in Gaelic is provided. One such bursary to Dingwall Academy has recently been granted to a candidate taking Gaelic in her leaving certificate course. In regard to the last part of the question, I am informed that the education authority have always been willing to assist, by payment of travelling expenses and fees, any teachers who wish to take vacation courses in Gaelic. Such a vacation course was held in Inverness last year, and some nine or ten primary school teachers from Sutherland attended it with this authority's assistance.