Letter: What a waste

IF EVER there was a case of "stupidity becoming accepted as the norm", then it must be the cliché applicable to the Scottish Government's determination to force the Gaelic language on the whole of Scotland.

While I accept the concerns that many Gaelic speakers have in preserving their language and associated culture, it must be tempered by the fact that some 95 per cent of Scots do not understand a single word of Gaelic. It is the language spoken by a small but not unimportant minority of those located in the North-West Highlands and Islands. It is of no importance economically.

I recently noticed new dual signage on the platform at my local station, Drem in East Lothian. They have now added "An Druim", being Gaelic for Drem. As far as I know, Gaelic was never spoken in this area of the south-east. Is dual signage now being rolled out throughout the Scottish railways and stations?

Finally, I read in disbelief that the National Galleries of Scotland are considering a madcap plan to make our world-famous galleries bilingual. How can this be justified and for whose benefit?

Traditionally, there were other indigenous tongues such as Lowland Scots and Doric - where do they feature? I resent the stealth drive to make Scotland bilingual through foisting Gaelic on the vast majority of non-speaking Scots.

BILL ROSS

Gullane

East Lothian

Like all national bodies in Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland are required by law to carry out a consultation plan as part the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. This consultation is now under way but any measures we might eventually take forward to promote the Gaelic language at NGS will be proportionate, appropriate and covered within our existing (extremely modest) marketing budget.

As anyone who actually refers to the draft proposals can tell, the huge costs mentioned in some press reports for implementing a Gaelic language plan at NGS are complete fantasy.

JOHN LEIGHTON

Director-General

National Galleries of Scotland