Fhuair mi sin an-diugh. Seo lethbhreac an litir aig Tom Harris BP a thaobh cleachadh na Gàidhlig aig seirbheisean an DVLA mar foirmichean airson cead a’ dhraibheadh. Chan eil e freagairt glè mhath! Cha bhi DVLA a’ cleachdadh Gàidhlig san t-àm ri teachd idir a rèir Mike Penning BP. Tha an t-eagal air gun cruathachadh e cothroman a chleachdadh cànain eile! OK ma-thà, tha e ceart gu leòr a bhi a’ fuireach ann aPublish Postn dùthaich’multi-cultural’ ach bu choir a h-uile duine bruidhinn sa Bheurla! 
Tha mi air an t-slighe dhachaigh air sgath gu bheil mi ag obair anns a’ mhadainn ach bha tachartas math ann an Glaschu aig an Old Fruitmarket.
Chord riumsa am film aig Sgioba Drama Uibhist – A’ Pharlamaid agus tha mi toilichte gum bhuannaich iad duais a-nochd.
Bha duil agam air duais son film aig Alison Lang ach cha robh duais sam bith ann. ‘S e film uabhasach math is eachdrail a bh’ ann.
Cha robh mi-fhein builleach cinnteach mu dheidheinn am film a bhuannaich 3 no 4 duaisean airson co-fharpais FilmG. Bha seorsa film am faic thu aig Feis nam Meadhanan Ceilteach aig ire nas airde. ‘S e film math a th’ ann ge-ta.
Anns na dealbhain: mi-fhein, Graeme is Lindsay aig Coinneachadh (Meetup) Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu, Jack a’ cho-stiuireadh am film agam fhein agus mo mhathair is sheanmhathair. Bha mi airson a thoirt cothrom gu mo theaghleach bho Lios MoChuda oir nam bheachdsa ’s e cudromach a tha fios aca beagan air an t- saoghal Ghaidhlig gu h-araid air sgath gu bheil mi ag obair anns an roinn seo.
A rèir litir a fhuair mi ann an Dùbhlachd, ’s urrainn do luchd-gabhaltais aig Corporaid Taigheadais Ghlaschu (GHA) Gàidhlig chleachdadh mar phàirt an sgèama Happy to Translate. Chan eil poileasaidh Gàidhlig sonraichte aca ge-tà.
Litir do GHA (10.12.2011)
“I would like for you and your own Board Members to consider implementing a Gaelic policy in your organisation. How your initial policy is worded or what aims it has are totally at your discretion; I just feel it is important when planning future strategies for your organisation that you are in a position to spare a thought to how the Gaelic language can play a part in your operations.”
Freagairt bho GHA (21.12.2011)
“We are members of Happy to Translate which is an initiative set up to enable tenants and customers of public organisations to communicate either through interpretation or translation as appropriate. We have in place a procedure whereby we have immediate access to a network of interpreters for the required languages. As such it is not our intention at this time to implement a Gaelic specific policy.”
Deagh naidheachd! Chuir am BP agam moladh (EDM) don phàrlamaid ann an Lunnain an-dè. Faic sìos! Seo an ceangal: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2822
Early day motion 2822
OFFICIAL STATUS OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE
- Session: 2010-12
- Date tabled: 05.03.2012
- Primary sponsor: Harris, Tom
- Sponsors:
That this House notes that the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 established Gaelic as an official language of Scotland; notes, however, that while UK-based agencies responsible to the UK Government recognise Welsh as an official language, the same does not apply to the Gaelic language; and urges the Government to establish Gaelic on equal terms with English and Welsh.
An-drasta, tha cothrom ann dhuibhse a sgriobhadh do am BP agaibh. An urrainn dhuibh lorg is sgrìobhadh am Bull Phàrlamaid agaibh an seo a thoirt taic den mholadh (EDM): http://www.theyworkforyou.com/
Dihaoine 02.03.2012
Sgrìobh Tom Harris MP ‘tweet’ a thaobh moladh do Riaghaltas Bhreatainn:
“As we celebrate St David’s day, we should also celebrate the fact that citizens of Wales are able to choose which language they fill out their application forms for driving licences and passports in because Welsh is recognised throughout the UK as an official language. The same cannot be said for Gaelic, which is recognised in Scotland as an official language but not in the UK, so Scottish citizens cannot fill out their applications for driving licences or passports in any language other than English. May we have an early ministerial statement so that the Government can set out their plans to give Gaelic equal status with Welsh and English, so that in turn Scots native Gaelic speakers can start to fill out such applications in the language of their choice?” Tom Harris (Glasgow South, Labour) 
Carson a rinn am BP agam seo?
Sgrìobh mi an litir seo a’ cleachdadh TheyWorkForYou:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Friday 3 February 2012
Dear Tom Harris,
I read this article today:
http://www.visabureau.com/uk/news/02-02-2012/uk-driving-tests-to-be-restricted-to-english-and-welsh-languages-only.aspx
It brought to light again the fact that Gaelic is not represented at a
UK wide level, yet Welsh is.
Will you support Gaelic to be recognised as an official UK language
just as Welsh is? Perhaps you could raise an early day motion or
similar on my behalf?
Ensuring Gaelic is recognised officially by the UK would generate many
employment opportunities in Scotland as a whole as well as in your own
constituency.
Yours sincerely,
Jamie Wallace
cfb21b131def8e46b350/c89b3f42f46d2e3422eb
(Signed with an electronic signature in accordance with subsection 7(3)
of the Electronic Communications Act 2000.)
Dear Tom Harris,
I read this article today:
http://www.visabureau.com/uk/news/02-02-2012/uk-driving-tests-to-be-restricted-to-english-and-welsh-languages-only.aspx
It brought to light again the fact that Gaelic is not represented at a
UK wide level, yet Welsh is.
Will you support Gaelic to be recognised as an official UK language
just as Welsh is? Perhaps you could raise an early day motion or
similar on my behalf?
Ensuring Gaelic is recognised officially by the UK would generate many
employment opportunities in Scotland as a whole as well as in your own
constituency.
Yours sincerely,
Jamie Wallace
cfb21b131def8e46b350/c89b3f42f46d2e3422eb
(Signed with an electronic signature in accordance with subsection 7(3)
of the Electronic Communications Act 2000.)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Agus an uair sin, fhuair mi am freagairt seo air 6mh latha an Gearran:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Mr Wallace,
Thank you for contacting Tom Harris MP.
Gaelic does enjoy full legal status though responsibility now lies with Holyrood rather than Westminster.
In a written answer to the House of Lords on 12 June 2003 (Hansard WA70), Lord Evans of Temple Guiting stated on behalf of the then Labour Government: “The United Kingdom Government ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in March 2001. As a signatory to the Charter, the Government have signalled their clear commitment to maintain and promote the use of indigenous minority languages across the United Kingdom, including Gaelic. The Gaelic language has, therefore, official status within the United Kingdom, although the Scottish Executive has devolved responsibility for the development of the language within Scotland.”
In April 2005, the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 which was then given Royal Assent in June 2005. The Act recognises Gaelic as an official language of Scotland, commanding equal respect with English. The Act establishes Bòrd na Gàidhlig as a statutory body and requires the creation of a national plan to provide strategic direction to Gaelic development in Scotland. The Act also provides a framework for the creation of Gaelic language plans by Scottish public authorities. The legislation is designed to promote the use of Gaelic, secure the status of the language and ensure its long-term future.
Kind regards,
Malcolm Cunning
Parliamentary Assistant to Tom Harris MP
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Sgrìobh mi air ais air 9mh latha an Gearran:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Malcolm,
Thank you for that information, however I already knew of that.
The response still does not address my original query in that Gaelic, although having official status in the UK, is only an official language in Scotland and not the UK. Welsh for example is an official UK language and can be seen and us used in public organisations such as DVLA and DirectGov, Passport Office and other areas which are not devolved to Scotland.
My question therefore for Tom Harris and all Scottish MPs is if they will push for such areas not currently devolved to the Scottish Parliament to embrace the Gaelic language and see its UK status changed to an official UK language. I believe such an amendment can be introduced to the Scotland Bill that is going through just now.
Many thanks,
Jamie Wallace
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Agus fhuair mi an freagairt seo air ais:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Jamie
Thank you for your email.
Tom was unaware of this problem and thinks that this should be addressed. To that end he will table an EDM in the Commons on the issue.
Hopefully this will raise awareness of the situation and put pressure on the Government to act.
Thanks.
Donald
Donald Campbell
Parliamentary Researcher to Tom Harris MP
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Feumaidh sinn feitheamh a-nis airson taic bho BhP eile agus freagairt bhon riaghaltas! Chì sinn…
Dh’ iarr am BP agam mi seachdainan air ais ma bhios e comasach a dheanamh EDM (moladh tratheil an latha?) a thaobh Gaidhlig agus mar chan eil e comasach an-drasta a chleadadh an canan aig seirbheisean mar DWP, Passport Office no TV Licensing. Bu toil leam Gaidhlig fhaicinn mar canan oifigeil sa RA direach mar a tha e le Cuimris is Beurla. An-diugh, thug am BP agam, Tom Harris, ceist do riaghaltais ann an Lunnain agus as-deidh sin, chur e tweet air Twitter!
Seumaidh ® 
Beachdan o chionn ghoirid