Mairi McAllan: “National security concerns have to be thrashed out, understood fulsomely, but we were never informed as to the case that…”

I am pleased to report strong progress is being made, with more than £1 million allocated to support preparatory work required to designate these areas.

This conditional support reflects an exceptional cross-sector partnership and demonstrates what can be achieved when government, funders and cultural organisations work together around a shared vision.

In the year that has passed since the last Royal National Mòd, Gaelic can now claim – alongside Scots – official status as a language of Scotland, thanks to the Scottish Languages Act.

Among the Act’s most important measures is the introduction of areas of linguistic significance, which will sustain Gaelic through a range of activities in which speakers can use the language and help it to thrive.