Seòmar agus comataidhean

This information is already in the public domain and can be downloaded from the General Register Office for Scotland website at:

www.gro-scotland.gov.uk. We do not hold the infant mortality rates for other nations.

The Scottish Executive is committed to securing the status of the Gaelic language and has taken steps to ensure that the use and understanding of Gaelic is promoted across Scotland. The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 creates a statutory body, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, with the functions of promoting the use and understanding of the Gaelic language, Gaelic culture and Gaelic education. Bòrd na Gàidhlig will prepare and submit to ministers for approval a National Gaelic Language Plan setting out strategies for promoting and enabling the use of the Gaelic language. The Bòrd will also work with appropriate public bodies in Scotland to promote the use and understanding of the Gaelic language at a local level.

The Scottish Executive supports the development of Gaelic-medium education through the Specific Grant scheme. This scheme provides additional support totalling £3.8 million in 2005-06 to local authorities to enable the opening of new Gaelic-medium classes and to enable existing Gaelic medium-education provision to expand. Two expert groups have been established to make recommendations to ministers on key areas which need to be addressed to ensure the continued growth in provision of Gaelic-medium education. A Teachers’ Action Group under the chairmanship of Matthew MacIver has made recommendations to ministers on the recruitment and retention of Gaelic-medium teachers. An ICT delivery group under the chairmanship of Bruce Robertson is addressing the expansion of the Gaelic-medium secondary curriculum.

The Scottish Executive also provides £8.5 million to support Gaelic broadcasting and is actively engaged in discussions with key interests in an effort to identify a funding solution that will result in the establishment of a Gaelic digital TV service.

The following table sets out the number of schools with Gaelic-medium classes in the last ten years. This information is not held for each education authority area. We are not aware of any classes that are expected to close but we are aware that Highland Council, Perth and Kinross and North Ayrshire are giving consideration to opening new Gaelic classes.

School Year	1995-96	1996-97	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05
Primary Schools with Gaelic Classes	50	52	55	56	59	60	59	58	60	61

 

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20307 on 15 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20307 on 15 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20302 on 14 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

No. I made clear the many reasons why the Executive will not be supporting any move to create a Scottish Olympic team when responding to the SNP’s debate on this subject on 6 October. The transcript of that debate can be found on the Scottish Parliament’s website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-05/sor1006-02.htm#Col19803.

One of our big ambitions for Scottish sport is to help our top athletes realise their full potential and achieve success on the world stage. One way of doing this is by working to ensure the strongest possible Scottish component in GB teams for Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Both. My UK Sports Cabinet colleagues will help promote and garner support throughout the bid campaign period when the opportunity arises. Their input will be valuable in helping us gain sufficient support across the Commonwealth to secure these Games for Glasgow and for Scotland.

The Commonwealth Games are arguably the most important and popular multi-sports event in the Commonwealth and are amongst the largest multi-sport events in the world.

Over the period of the Games, if the Glasgow bid is successful, the whole of Scotland will benefit from the opportunity to be involved in the Games and will show the rest of the world what our country has to offer. Hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland would provide a further opportunity to demonstrate to the world our ability to stage major sporting events. It will also allow those visiting Glasgow and the rest of Scotland, as well as those watching on television, the chance to see our beautiful country and the many assets it has to offer, be it to visit as a holiday destination; a venue for staging major events; a location for businesses and investors; or a place to live, work and study.

In developing evidence-based health services, we have to take cognisance of the whole body of research on any given subject. The article by Mielke et al adds to the body of research on the question of cholesterol and dementia.

We shall consider what actions may be helpful in relation to the European Institute for Technology if the European Commission develops definite proposals for it, following the current consultation. I refer the member to the question S2W-19607 answered on 2 November 2005 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.