Seòmar agus comataidhean

Were you simply being kind to the Government? Rather than saying, “No, we should not have one”, were you being nice and suggesting an interim measure? I know I am being slightly controversial, but were you being kind by coming up with another option or was it a sensible suggestion?

I know that Lydia Rohmer will want to come in here. Could I have your reflections, please?

Good morning. I will touch on an area that we have not really considered thus far, which is what the bill might enable in improving access to adult education—types of further education—in either Gaelic or Scots. I suspect that Donald Macleod and Joan Esson will have a view, as will Bruce Eunson, from a Scots perspective. Will the bill enable anything more when it comes to further adult education or other sorts of education?

I will bring in Bruce Eunson. To overlay your earlier comment about changing culture through creating an environment in which people have permission to speak in what is, in effect, their own language, do you agree that the bill will enable further adult education participation from local authorities? From your perspective, will it also enhance legitimisation of Scots?

Okay. Would Inge Birnie like to comment?

Dr Munro might want to come in on this. This morning, we heard some reflections that the bill is not just about the language, but is about legitimisation and the cultural element. You are here from the Gaelic side, but if you were advising on how to get greater reach and legitimacy, and really pinnacling Scots in our society, based on what Gaelic has been through as a medium for education, would you hope for provision on Scots in higher and further education?

I will come to Sylvia Warnecke first, because we started to touch on this area. The bill includes no provision for Scots in the higher and further education sectors. I would appreciate hearing your view on that, and any further perspectives.

You have made it very clear that you are accountable for only those areas for which you are accountable. However, I wonder whether I can press you, with regard to some of the evidence that is emerging today and from our previous evidence session, to cascade throughout the entire body of the civil service the need for the processes for the devising of framework bills to be consistent and rigorous.

I say that because we are seeing an emerging pattern that the committee has been driven to write about. I myself have raised the issue in the chamber. That is more in relation to framework bills. I appreciate that you are accountable only for what you are accountable for. However, in your capacity as a cabinet secretary, it would be helpful if you could you see your way to raising that matter generally.

It is, because it has to be financed.

You have neatly rounded it back to what I know you are very passionate about. If other people want to come in, I am trying to get your sense of where we go from here, because we could end up with commissioners for everything.