Seòmar agus comataidhean

I call Pam Duncan-Glancy to speak to amendment 84 and other amendments in the group.

Amendment 63, in the name of the Deputy First Minister, is grouped with amendments as shown in the groupings paper.

Amendment 81, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, is grouped with amendments 82, 83, 57 and 58.

I call Emma Harper to wind up and to press or seek to withdraw amendment 69.

That ends stage 2 consideration of the bill. I thank the Deputy First Minister and her supporting officials for attending. We would have gone into day 2 next Wednesday, so you now have time in your diary, Deputy First Minister. I am sure that your officials will fill that quickly. I also thank all committee members and our clerking team for their efforts.

Amendment 38, in the name of Ross Greer, is grouped with amendments 39, 40 and 44 to 46.

Amendments 38 to 40 and 44 to 46 require annual reporting with appropriate flexibility. For example, amendments 38 and 44 use the phrase

“as soon as reasonably practicable after each financial year”.

That is to reflect the urgency of the situation that we have already discussed. In the last set of census figures, beneath the Duolingo figure that boosted overall Gaelic language skills, the decline in Gaelic as a living, spoken or community language was obvious.

My intention with the amendments in the group is not to be overly prescriptive—they are not amendments about everything that should be included in the contents of the reports—but to clarify that there is a need for regular reporting for accountability and for us to be confident that progress is being made.

They are simple enough amendments. We have previously debated striking a balance between not placing too onerous a duty on bodies and the need for us to be regularly appraised of the situation. My hope is that we will be able to find agreement on that.

Amendment 47, in the name of Michael Marra, is grouped with amendments 55 and 67.

Amendment 26, in the name of Michael Marra, is grouped with amendments 27 to 31, 79, 32 and 80.

There will be a division.

For

Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Abstentions

Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)

The result of the division is: For 6, Against 0, Abstentions 4.

Amendment 95 agreed to.

Amendment 67 not moved.

Amendment 68 moved—[Ross Greer]—and agreed to.

Section 26—Status of the Scots language

Amendment 96 not moved.

Section 26 agreed to.

Section 27—Scots language strategy