The Act – Section by Section Gaelic language plans Section 3 – Gaelic language plans
19.Section 3 introduces a power for the Bòrd to issue a notice to any relevant public authority requiring them to prepare a Gaelic language plan. ‘Relevant public authority’ is defined in section 10 and covers any Scottish public authority, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and (in relation to functions exercisable in or as regards Scotland which do not relate to reserved matters) any cross-border public authority and the Food Standards Agency. A cross-border public authority is any body, government department, office or office-holder designated as such by Order in Council which has, in addition to other functions, functions exercisable in or as regards Scotland and which do not relate to reserved matters.
20.Subsection (2) specifies the information which the Bòrd must provide in the notice it issues to a public authority.
21.Subsection (3) sets out the considerations the Bòrd must have regard to in deciding whether to issue a notice to a public authority.
22.Subsection (4) sets out the information which a Gaelic language plan must contain.
23.Subsection (5) specifies the issues which a public authority must have regard to when preparing its plan.
24.Subsection (6) requires a public authority to consult with any person who it thinks has an interest in the plan it is preparing.
25.Subsection (7) gives the Scottish Ministers a power to make regulations specifying further the content of language plans. The Scottish Ministers must consult the Bòrd before making any regulations.