Chamber and committees

There is nothing to add. I recognise that Scots is spoken in a variety of ways and in different dialects in different parts of Scotland. I urge colleagues to support the amendments in the group.

I engaged with the Scots language community when we discussed amendments to propose. There has been no direct discussion with ADES and teachers, but I have engaged with members of the Scots language community, who I believe are experts in Scots.

I encourage members to support amendments 69, 71 and 74.

Amendment 69 agreed to.

Good morning, everyone. It is a pleasure to be here, and I thank you for the opportunity to move these important amendments.

I thank the many Scots organisations and individuals who have been so helpful to me and who support our Scots language cross-party group, which I co-convene. The organisations include the Scots Language Centre, Oor Vyce, the Scots Language Society and the Open University in Scotland. Many individuals are associated with those organisations, and I must include Bruce Eunson, Dr Sylvia Warnecke and Dr Michael Dempster. All have made invaluable contributions to promoting Scots, both at the CPG and in providing input for me on the bill.

At stage 1, there was discussion about whether the term “Scots” includes the different dialects of the Scots language that are used in the different parts of Scotland—for instance, the north-east dialect, which is also called the Doric—so I am keen to introduce my amendments in this group.

My amendments seek to reassure the Scots language community on that point—not by changing the definition of “Scots” in an exhaustive way that could, inadvertently, exclude something, but by focusing on the substantive sections of part 2 of the bill. Amendment 69 makes it clear that the Scottish ministers’ objectives for the promotion of Scots in the Scots language strategy are to include the different dialects of Scots that are used in the different parts of Scotland.

Amendment 71 clarifies that, likewise, the Scottish ministers’ power to give guidance to public authorities on the promotion of Scots includes the different dialects of Scots.

Section 31 of the bill places an education authority under a duty to

“promote, facilitate and support Scots language education”.

Amendment 74 makes it clear that the education authority

“may discharge its functions relating to Scots language education through teaching and learning in the dialect of the Scots language most relevant to its area.”

For instance, in the north-east of Scotland, Doric would be the most relevant.

I hope that that provides some reassurance for all stakeholders, and I ask the committee to support my amendments in this group.

I move amendment 69.

Good morning, minister. You mentioned alkaline hydrolysis. In preparation for today’s meeting, I had one of my team do some research on newer, more ecological and environmentally friendly methods of burial and cremation. I was surprised to learn about all the different methods that are available. Newer methods such as alkaline hydrolysis, which is also known as resomation, have a reduced carbon footprint, but funeral directors might require on-going training or knowledge and skills development in order to take up those newer, more ecological methods of burial and cremation. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on that.

The funeral directors who were consulted as part of the development of the regulations will be well aware of what they are being asked for in relation to people’s end-of-life choices.

Everything that you are describing is really complicated. You mentioned international dentists coming to work as therapists, but there is also potential to have a role that is equivalent to an advanced nurse practitioner. I am a nurse, and we can see how nursing has evolved to become quite specialist. Is providing that kind of training being looked at?

I have a wee supplementary question about historical graveyards. I have a colleague who has 15 family members in an old graveyard in Moniaive. She learned about the regulations coming down the line and she is worried about how communication will take place with her and other members of the public who have historical links to old gravestones, for example on Victorian sites. What is the best way for information to be communicated about and to those who are responsible, whether that is the local authority or members of the public?

There are challenges in rural areas. You mentioned Dumfries and Galloway. I know that Moffat accepted the Scottish dental access initiative and 2,000 people were registered; however, that is a small number in terms of the whole of Dumfries and Galloway.

There are challenges with recruitment, including rural recruitment, and challenges about accessing dentists who may have trained in Europe, to get them to come here. Is that also part of the challenge?

Most of my questions on dental reform have been covered already. Minister, I am interested in hearing about remuneration packages for dentists as a way of encouraging more graduates, for example, to choose dentistry. Would you consider reviewing remuneration packages again?

My understanding is that dental nurses can take X-rays for somebody who is in pain, but it is the dentist who would interpret the X-ray and, for instance, prescribe an antibiotic. Processes can be carried out without having to go direct to a dentist.