Seòmar agus comataidhean

I will stick with that theme. Earlier, you talked about having only 18 full-time posts—your organisation is small. Does the board currently have the capacity to monitor progress for the Gaelic language across all of Scotland? Are you sufficiently independent to hold the Scottish Government to account for progress in that area?

We know that the resource that is set out in the financial memorandum is not going to be coming. In the context of the bill, do you have the capacity to monitor progress?

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With that in mind, how effective have public bodies’ Gaelic language plans been in supporting the long-term and widespread use of Gaelic?

There are lots of nodding heads from the bòrd.

I will now bring in Ross Greer with some questions.

Apologies. I have done it again. That is twice today that I have forgotten Liam Kerr. I am going to be in trouble later. Liam Kerr, please. My apologies.

Yes, I suspect that people have lives outside of the Scottish Parliament and legislation. I know—is that not a surprise to all of us? Making them aware and getting them tuned into things is key. Thank you.

James Wylie is keen to respond.

You are a very good advert: I am keen to get myself up there fairly soon.

Please carry on, Willie.

If you do not mind, Donald, as your mic is already on.

The last question is about your views on the financial memorandum. On 13 May, the Finance and Public Administration Committee wrote to the cabinet secretary to raise a number of concerns associated with the measures that are proposed in the bill, as well as about funding and support for Gaelic and Scots more generally. It asked the Scottish Government to reflect on the issues that had been raised in evidence on the adequacy of the funding.

What are your thoughts on that issue and on the view that the bill will constitute

“a shift in activity, a repurposing of resources in terms of effort and attention”

but will not require significant additional funding?

Who would like to go first? Would it be okay to start with you, Donald?

We have to bring in Liam Kerr and Pam Duncan-Glancy before we get to that.