AS a Gaelic speaker, I was privileged to be appointed as Scotland’s first-ever Cabinet Secretary for Gaelic earlier this year.

I also had the honour of taking the oath of office in Gaelic when I was sworn in as Deputy First Minister at the Court of Session.

Boosting the use of Gaelic and Scots in traditional areas is a priority for the Scottish Government which we are progressing through the Scottish Languages Bill.

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The bill was debated by MSPs yesterday and it presents us with a significant opportunity to protect and restore Scotland’s indigenous languages.

Powers in the bill would help ensure that Gaelic medium primary pupils are able to continue their Gaelic education in secondary school.

It would also allow parents to apply for Gaelic early learning and childcare. And for Scots, it would encourage an increase of the language’s provision within Scotland’s school curriculum. Other measures which would be introduced include the adoption of Scots and Gaelic as official languages and the establishment of areas of linguistic significance in Gaelic communities.

This would allow the Scottish Government to focus grant funding in areas where Gaelic is most prolific yet most fragile.

Progress in Gaelic broadcasting, arts and schooling has allowed us to finally start to turn the tide on the language’s 50-year decline, supported by more than £120 million from the Scottish Government since 2020.

Census results published this year found an increase in Gaelic use for the first time since 1971.

But I recognise that we need to go further, faster if Gaelic and Scots are to survive. That is why we are exploring ways to work collaboratively across Parliament to strengthen this legislation in its second stage and develop additional support outside of the bill.

I look forward to building on progress to ensure that Gaelic and Scots remain a core part of Scotland’s culture and identity.