HC Deb 12 January 1998 vol 304 cc115-6W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the level of resources devoted to the promotion of, and education in, the Gaelic language. [22415]

Mr. Wilson

Direct Scottish Office support for Gaelic commenced in 1979–80. The information is set out in the table:

£ million
1979–80 0.061
1980–81 0.072
1981–82 0.088
1982–83 0.101
1983–84 0.077
1984–85 0.081
1985–86 0.121
1986–87 0.381
1987–88 0.480
1988–89 0.708
1989–90 1.148
1990–91 1.506
1991–92 1.962
1992–93 11.564
1993–94 11.646
1994–95 11.183
1995–96 11.387
1996–97 11.401
1997–98 12.473

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the number of hours of Gaelic broadcasting on(a) radio and (b) television. [22411]

Mr. Wilson

Figures for the hours of Gaelic radio and television broadcast are available only for recent years. The main source of Gaelic radio broadcasts in Scotland is BBC Scotland. Figures for hours of radio broadcast on BBC Scotland for the last 3 years are set out in the following list:

Hours of radio broadcast

  • 1994–95: 1,588
  • 1995–96: 1,820
  • 1996–97: 2,340

Gaelic television programmes are broadcast by BBC Scotland, Scottish Television, Grampian Television, and Channel 4. Since the establishment of the Gaelic Television Fund the total hours of Gaelic television broadcast are as set out in the following list:

Hours of television broadcast

  • 1993: 489
  • 1994: 569
  • 116
  • 1995: 521
  • 1996: 551
  • 1997: 528