Chamber and committees

Given that the Government is working with a fixed budget, we are probably entering into a sterile debate if we are asking, as some have, why you did not argue for more from health to go into agriculture. No doubt, as we speak, there are Opposition members or other committees asking a minister why they were not arguing for more to be taken from agriculture to be put into health.

Instead, I will ask about the issue of long-term certainty that you alluded to and how there will be less of that in the environment ahead. What is the impact of that on budgeting decisions on agriculture?

I will ask first about funding for the islands programme. It is welcome that, despite the capital climate, there is capital spend available, but can you say more about the budget lines and how they are being utilised for the islands programme, please?

Will the member take an intervention?

I congratulate Kevin Stewart on bringing the motion to the chamber. On a personal note, I warmly echo his praise of the late Allan Macartney MEP.

I have doubtless told members before about how, in heady pre-Brexit days, I was once on a train between Luxembourg and Brussels. A man selling sandwiches was making friendly conversation as he made his way up the train. Although I could not follow a lot of what was being said, I could hear that he was speaking to his customers, as required, in fluent French, German, Dutch, English and Luxembourgish. My point is that around the world, multilingualism is normal whereas by contrast, monolingualism is unusual. Yet, in the UK, we still look at things the other way around.

Therefore, it is deeply disappointing to see my alma mater, the University of Aberdeen, taking an apparent step backwards in its commitment to language degrees. Following the widespread backlash against initial proposals, the university made a welcome commitment to developing new language courses, as well as continuing to provide additional and evening language classes, and joint honours language degrees. However, I am not sure how any of that mitigates against the loss of single honours courses.

Tha ionmhas an oilthigh 1.6 millean nòt a dhìth, ach, mar a bha oileanaich agus luchd-obrach ag ràdh, cha bhi molaidhean an oilthigh a’ dèanamh dad ach a’ Ghàidhlig a lagachadh air a’ champus. Cuideachd, cha bhi cothrom sam bith ann a-nis cànan sam bith aig ìre single honours a dhèanamh àite sam bith gu tuath air meadhan na h-Alba.

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

The budget for the university is short of £1.6 million. Students and staff are saying that the recommendations from the university will do nothing for Gaelic except weaken its presence on the campus. There will also no longer be the opportunity for students to take a single honours language degree there.

The member continued in English.

The proposals run counter to the very idea of a university as a place where students come to realise, inter alia, that the world does not operate solely in English. As has been alluded to, since the founding of King’s college Aberdeen in 1495, when its working language was Latin, French has also been taught. Gaelic has been studied in some form since those very early days and, since the 19th century, the university has offered a wide variety of degree courses in classical and modern languages.

German language professors in Aberdeen were among the voices calling for peace on the brink of the first world war. Since then—o tempora, o mores—Latin and Greek have already retreated, as have single honours degree courses in Italian and Spanish.

Meanwhile, the one-plus-two model has ensured the much wider roll-out of languages in Scotland’s primary schools, although I acknowledge the point that the university makes about the falling numbers of pupils taking language qualifications in secondary schools. That certainly raises questions about what we do to encourage students to choose languages in the upper end of secondary and when moving on to university. However, it is unclear to me how abolishing single honours language degrees is likely to strengthen language courses in schools, given their popularity with those looking to become language teachers.

I realise that this is a pet subject for me. I try to encourage the wider use of languages in the Parliament, not least in my office. I hope that I am not about to overlook the skills of anyone in my staff but, between all of us in the office, we manage Gaelic, Scots, English, Irish, Norwegian, Danish, French, Spanish and Italian.

Universities are, of course, independent of Government, but I urge the University of Aberdeen to think again about what kind of university it wants to be and to listen to the concerns that are now being raised by its students, staff and graduates.

Very good—it is on the same thing.

On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. It is only a couple of sentences, and members will be able to work it out from the context, but I would be very grateful if anyone wishes to tune in. [Laughter.]

Will the member give way?

Will Sandesh Gulhane give way?

Will the member give way?

I thank the member for giving way, and for the characteristically thoughtful tenor of his remarks.

The member points to the demographic crisis—let us use the word—that Scotland and other parts of northern Europe face. Does he also take the view that that must make us think about our policy on freedom of movement within Europe and from elsewhere?