A FURIOUS Tory MSP has demanded the Scots language be “left to the pages of Oor Wullie and The Broons”.
Backbencher Stephen Kerr was left fuming after the Scottish Government issued a Freedom of Information response in the traditional lowland tongue.
Officials were asked a series of questions in Scots about the Scottish Languages Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, The Times reports.
The response was also written in Scots, to Kerr’s dismay.
He told The Times: “Written Scots really should be left to the pages of Oor Wullie and The Broons, and esoteric authors.”
Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, one of Scotland’s most famous writers in modern times, writes in Scots and the country’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, whose works are still recited globally, also wrote in the language.
Last month, MSPs voted to approve the general principles of the bill which aims to boost the use of Scots and Gaelic.
Kerr (above) added: “I recognise the importance of Gaelic as part of our heritage as Scots and support any sensible measure to support its everyday use in areas where it is traditionally spoken.
“But a Scots language can’t be easily defined; it is different for everyone who speaks it depending on where they are from and how they use it. It is a living, breathing and vibrant spoken language.”
“There are many dialects and versions of Scots. There isn’t a single Scots language, and it is an oral tradition.
“I had a look at the Scots language version of the education children and young people committee’s report on the languages bill, and I don’t believe for one minute people are going to read it other than for their own amusement.
“Let people speak Scots however they want to without being poked at and prodded. New regulations and legal obligations are not needed.”
The questions received by the Government, according to The Times which translated them into standard English, were as follows:
Haes the Scots Govrenment ony offeecial policy anent the Scots leid? Please provide it gin yese dae? (Has the Scottish government any official policy about the Scots language? Please provide it if you do?)
Is the Scots Govrenment makkin ony ettles fur tae accomodate memmers ae the public wha’s wantin tae spikk wi the govrenment in the Scots leid? Please advise me ae thir ettles. (Is the Scottish government making any plans to accommodate members of the public who want to speak with the government in the Scots language?)
Haes the Scots Govrenment ony policie anent the Scots leid as a pairt ae the current legislativ program? Please advise me o thir policie(s). (Has the Scottish government any policy about the Scots language as a part of the current legislative programme? Please advise me of this policy.)
The Scottish government response was given in Scots, it began: “Ah include a copy o some o the information ye speirt for.” (I include a copy of some of the information you asked for.)
“The Scots government is richt noo in the act o takkin forrit the Scots Languages Bill.” (The Scottish government is right now in the act of taking forward the Scots language bill.)
“The Scots Government daesnae hae ony specific policy for accomodatin memmers o the public that want tae spik wi the government in the Scots leid. Houaniver, the Scots Government daes ettle at accommodatin sic speirins whaur reasonable and appropriate.” (The Scottish government does not have any specific policy for accommodating members of the public that want to speak with the government in the Scots language. However, the Scottish government does plan to accommodate such inquiries where reasonable and appropriate.)
The response goes on to explain that the cost of retrieving some of the information and processing it, would breach the upper cost limit of £600.
An official wrote: “For aw that we ettle at giein oot information whaurever we can, in this case the cost o airtin oot, bringin back, and giein oot the information speirt for wad be mair as the upper cost leemit o £600.”
It goes on to advise the correspondent to limit the number or the scope of the questions asked: “You micht, houaniver, want tae think aboot bringin in the range o yer speirin sae as the costs can be brung ablow £600. This could be duin bi bringin doon the nummer o years speirt for, the Scots government daesnae keep haud o staff calendars.
“Tae airt oot the information wad hae needit luikin throu sindry folders haudin thoosands o files that micht or michtna be relatit for information. Ithergates, this could be duin bi bringin in the range o the subjeck maitter.”
