LOCAL NEWS JULY 24

Gaelic language in a “perilous state”

A new report assessing Scotland’s indigenous languages is calling for urgent support to be provided for Gaelic which is described as being in a “perilous state”.

The findings were outlined in the stage one report of the Scottish Language Bill published today (Wednesday) by the Education, Children, and Young People Committee.

The objective of the Scottish Language Bill is to provide further support for Scotland’s indigenous languages, Gaelic and Scots.

The report follows on from extension evidence sessions conducted by the committee in which individual stakeholders and organisations such as Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highland and Islands Enterprise and Bòrd na Gàidhlig provided oral evidence.

The committee said it was concerned by the lack of clarity within the bill, particularly in relation to what obligations the strategies, standards and guidance, will place on public bodies, and the associated costs of meeting such obligations.

It stated that meeting such costs will be particularly challenging given competing pressures on local authority budgets at this time.

In its conclusion, the committee said it believes that there are significant issues that need to be addressed to support Gaelic, which is in a perilous state, and that more needs to be done to urgently support speakers, to ensure that the language thrives as a community language.

They noted that stakeholders are looking for more tangible support, particularly in relation to community development, than the structures being established by the bill will guarantee.

The committee expects the Scottish Government to provide the required clarity, at the latest prior to stage two of the bill.

Skye triangle sailing hit by delays following fault on MV Hebrides

CalMac services on the Skye Triangle route are set for further disruption across the next two days after a fault rendered the MV Hebrides out of action for several hours this morning.

This morning a pipeline repair had to be carried out to the fire mains of MV Hebrides which wasn’t able to depart Tarbert until 10.30am.

A spokesperson for CalMac told Radio Skye that all sailings are running approximately three hours late with no cancellations, and apologised for any inconvenience caused to customers.

The spokesperson added that the last sailing (10pm) back to Tarbert on Thursday night, and the first sailing from Tarbert on Friday morning (7am) have been cancelled to bring the timetable back to normal as of Friday morning at 9.30am.

Highland MPs back scrapping of child-cap but Government wins vote

Highland MPs last night backed a bid by the Scottish National Party to have the two-child cap on benefits scrapped.

The amendment put forward by the SNP’s leader at Westminster Stephen Flynn argued that the Kings Speech set out the Labour Party’ plan for Goverment fails to include immediate measures to abolish the two-child benefit limit to universal credit.

The motion was backed by Highland Liberal Democrats MP Jamie Stone who was one of 103 members to vote in favour, however a total of 363 MPs, including the Western Isles representative Torcuil Crichton, voted against it.

Last week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to established a joint task force across the work and pensions and education departments to devise a strategy to tackle child poverty and said the Goverment would work cross-party to achieve this.

Inverness, Skye, West Ross-shire MP Angus MacDonald told Radio Skye he was not able to attend the parliament to vote, but he would have certainly backed the amendment has he been there.

Millar on form against as Scotland under-17s beat Wexford.

Scotland’s under-17s shinty side recorded their second win in a row by defeating Wexford by 26 points to 25 during their tour of Ireland match on Tuesday.

Skye under-17 captain Archie Millar scored 18 points in the victory for the national team who defeated Dublin GAA on Monday night.

The squad are due to return home to Scotland on Wednesday.

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