There was circulated Report No GSC01/03 by the Area Manager, Skye and Lochalsh, outlining the remit for the Gaelic Select Committee.

There was circulated an extract from the Scottish Executive Partnership Agreement identifying elements relevant to the Gaelic Select Committee.

There was circulated Report No GSC02/03 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport detailing the progress of two projects aimed at providing teacher education for Gaelic speaking candidates resident in the Highlands. The report explained that a shortage of Gaelic speaking teachers had been one of the main issues affecting the development of Gaelic medium education but that Aberdeen and Strathclyde Universities were presently addressing this problem.

On 15 August 2003 Aberdeen University would be launching a part-time, distance learning version of the PGCE (Primary) course based on the Faculty's current full-time syllabus but with an elective element on Gaelic medium education. Gaelic speaking candidates had been targeted and presently six Gaelic speaking students had enrolled on the Course.

Work was continuing with Strathclyde University's project to produce a PGCE (Primary) course which would be based on Gaelic medium education and would be delivered at various locations in the Highlands and Islands in partnership with the UHI-Millennium Institute and relevant local authorities.

With regard to Lews Castle College, it was explained that some units were being piloted in the 2003/04 session. It was envisaged that the process of formal accreditation of the new course would commence in September 2003 and be completed by the Spring of 2004 with the new Gaelic medium PGCE (Primary) course commencing in August 2004.

Members commended officials for their work in dealing with the shortage of Gaelic medium teachers. However, concern was expressed that there was insufficient promotion by Careers Scotland of the Gaelic career opportunities available in teaching, media and arts.

Concern was also expressed that better integration was required between the Gaelic and English units within schools. It was explained that the Council had measures in place to deal with this matter which were fully detailed in its policy the "Early Years Strategy".

The Committee noted the report and AGREED that:-

(i) a report be prepared on the progress of Gaelic medium teacher training course at Lews Castle and the contribution of colleges in the UHI network to Gaelic medium teacher training;

(ii) a review of the scale of deficiency of Gaelic medium teachers both in primary and secondary education within Highland be undertaken;

(iii) there was a need for Careers Scotland to highlight potential for careers in Gaelic in teaching, media and arts etc

(iv) a joint report be prepared by Education and Gaelic officials on the benefits of Gaelic education for career entry; and

(v) a copy of the Early Years Strategy which included the key components of schools encouraging and harnessing the diversity of dual medium schools be circulated to Committee Members.

there was circulated Report No GSC03/03 by the Gaelic Development Officer giving an update of the general progress on current issues of interest to the Select Committee.

This included reference to the Scottish Executive Cross Party Group on Gaelic, the Gaelic Language Bill, the Gaelic Language Board, Gaelic in the Community Grants Scheme, the Royal National Mod 2003, Am Baile, BBC Radio nan Gaidheal and the Local Gaelic Development Groups Conference.

Concern was expressed that the Gaelic in the Community Grants Scheme (CNAG) was not helping with the larger strategic issues. The Gaelic Development Officer explained that the organisation had undergone internal re-organisation and it was hoped that issues such as those mentioned would be addressed.

With regard to the launch of the Gaelic Development Plan, it was intended that a draft would be circulated at the November Committee meeting which would incorporate comments from Bord na Gaidhlig.

The Committee noted the report and Councillor Slimon's request to be involved in any future Gaelic Development Plan in the Badenoch and Strathspey area.

The Committee AGREED that:-

(i) a report be prepared by Transport, Environmental and Community Services regarding the number of road signs which had been replaced in the Council's area with bilingual signs over the last two years;

(ii) invite the Scottish Executive Cross Party Gaelic Working Group to hold a future meeting of the Group in Inverness; and

There was circulated Report No GSC04/03 by the Gaelic Development Officer outlining the developments in the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee and the Communications Bill.

The Communications Bill aimed to reform the broadcasting and telecommunications industry by promoting competition and investment and by giving regulatory powers to the new Office of Communications (Ofcom), which were currently exercised by five different bodies.

Ofcom would have structures such as a Content Board which would advise on public interest issues and a Panel would keep a watching brief on telecommunications and competition issues. It would also have advisory Councils to cover the Nations and Regions, a new dimension introduced in the later stages of the passage of the Bill.

The Content Board had one Scottish Representative, Mr Mata MacIver, former Chair of the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee. The Chair of the new Gaelic Media Service, which would supersede the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee when the Bill was enacted, would be an ex-officio member of the Scottish Advisory Council.

The Committee noted the report and agreed to:-

(i) make representations to the Scottish Executive and to the Westminster Government to ensure a secure future for Gaelic Broadcasting; and

(ii) invite a representative from the industry to give a presentation on workings of the Bill and the implications for Gaelic Broadcasting.

There was circulated Report No GSC05/03 by the Gaelic Development Officer outlining the findings of the HECLA Consultants report "Importance of Gaelic to the Inverness and Nairn Area" commissioned by the Inverness and Nairn Enterprise.

The report revealed that the provision for Gaelic services and related activities in the Inverness and Nairn area helped to generate more than £1.8m for the local economy and supported more than 100 full time jobs. The report also indicated that Inverness had the highest concentration of Gaelic speakers in relation to any other Scottish city and there were found to be 3,810 people with some knowledge of the language in the Inverness and Nairn area, representing 7.25% of the overall population. It was estimated that there were a further 350 Gaelic learners in the area.

The report concluded that the presence of the new Bord na Gaidhlig in Inverness should stimulate language planning and economic and community development activities.

It was felt that the report was very positive and given the findings of the report there was a need for Inverness to take on a more prominent role as the capital city for Gaelic.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the Council and INE officials meet with the Consultant to discuss and agree how to address the recommendations of the report;

(ii) the Gaelic Development Officer continue discussions on this; and

There was circulated Report No GSC06/03 by the Gaelic Development Officer giving an update on the proposed Institute for the Languages of Scotland (ILS).

It was explained that a number of academics and other interested parties had been meeting under the auspices of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, to pool ideas and develop proposals as to the best way in which information and research on the languages of Scotland could be accessed and promoted in the future. This plenary group had proposed a centre for the languages of Scotland and recommended that further investigation should take place.

The envisaged centre, provisionally entitled the Institute for the Languages of Scotland, would provide a focus for co-ordination and a point of contact to everyone in society, lay or professional with an interest in the languages of Scotland past and present.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the recommendations of the ILS Standing Committee as detailed in the report; and

(ii) agreed to support the proposed ILS and that Members of the Gaelic Select Committee and Council officers meet with members of the ILS in due course.

There was circulated Report No GSC07/03 by the Gaelic Development Officer giving a summary of the work undertaken to date and possible future project ideas of the Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship.

The Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship had been operating for sixteen months and had been funded by the Scottish Arts Council, Comunn na Gaidhlig, Feisean nan Gaidheal, Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise, Ross and Cromarty Enterprise and Hi-Arts.

The aim of the Fellowship was to maintain and develop Gaelic song in the Highlands by working with community groups, established organisations and young people. The Officer was based within the Education, Culture and Sport Service with cross service working.

The report gave an outline of the progress of projects which included the Ross-shire Songs Project, Youth Group, MacKillop Recordings, Schools, Lectures and Gaelic Song CD which would be distributed for sale at a variety of commercial outlets.

It was further reported that the Fellowship Officer had received an invitation from Feis an Eilein on Christmas Island, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, to deliver a lecture on Gaelic Song and conduct workshops for children and adults attending the Feis. The Scottish Arts Council had awarded grant of 90% towards the costs.

The report also proposed a new CD of Mairi Mhor Songs and the commissioning of a new song to commemorate Mairi Mhor as possible future project ideas.

There was circulated Report No GSC08/03 by the Area Manager, Skye and Lochalsh, outlining how the Gaelic Grants Budget was administered.

The report explained that the Gaelic Grants Budget was held within the Education, Culture and Sport Service and was managed on the same basis as other grants budgets. The budget was largely used to support the work of the national Gaelic agencies through annual grants based on a Service Level Agreement with the Council because the grant awarded was in excess of £10,000. A smaller part of the budget was used to fund special projects

It was further explained that the Council had indicated its support for the Tobar an Dualchais Project which was a five year proposal to digitise the Campbell Canna Collection, the BBC Gaelic Archive and the archives of the School of Scottish Studies. The project hoped to secure funding from the Council amounting to £50k over its five year duration, the initial payment of £10k had been made from savings in the Grants Budget in the last financial year but the balance would have to be found between now and the project's conclusion in 2008. Therefore, any savings within the budget should be prioritised for the Tobar an Dualchais Project.

It was also explained that the budget had been reduced by £30,000, which was allocated to the Mod, but this had been removed with the provision that this sum would be awarded as and when the Mod was held in the Highland area.

Concern was expressed that the budget was insufficient mainly due to funds being committed at the start of each financial year by recurring projects which left little flexibility to assist new bids and projects in obtaining successful match funding.

There was circulated Report No GSC09/03 by the Area Manager, Skye and Lochalsh, giving an update on the progress made in developing the proposals contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This included reference to an Action Plan that had been prepared on key areas for development and joint working.

The report also confirmed that on 21 May 2003 the House of Assembly, Government of Nova Scotia had passed a resolution officially recognising the adoption of the MOU and thanking former Councillor A M Beaton for the work he had carried out to bring it to fruition.

With regard to the appointment of a Part-time Development Worker based in Highland, it was explained that the matter would be discussed with the Chief Executive.

During discussion it was proposed that the possibility for tripartite tourism marketing of common Gaelic language cultures and heritage for the Highland and Islands, Nova Scotia and the USA should be investigated.

The Committee noted the report and AGREED that:-

(i) there be member involvement in the bimonthly progress monitoring conference calls with Nova Scotia;
(ii) discussions take place with the Chief Executive on the appointment of a Part-time Development Worker to be based in Highland;
(iii) a letter of congratulations to be issued once the new Provincial Government cabinet members were declared following recent elections;
(iv) a report be prepared on the possibilities for tripartite tourism marketing on Highland/Gaelic cultural issues with Nova Scotia and the USA;
(v) public meetings be held to discuss Gaelic Strategy and arrangements be put in place to remind and reinforce to Scottish Ministers the progress that had been made and the commitments already made by previous Ministers; and
(vi) copies of the following reports be circulated to members of the Committee:-

(a) Memorandum of Understanding;
(b) Highland Council Gaelic Policy; and
(c) Gaelic Development Plan; and
(d) Provincial Government's Gaelic Policy and Strategy for Nova Scotia.