BBC Charter renewal offers a chance to secure the future of one of the ancient languages of the UK – we must seize it
4 min read
The future of the Scottish Gaelic language, one of the UK’s indigenous languages, is on a knife edge.
Without proper investment in Gaelic broadcasting, the carrying vessel for the language in the 21st century, the survival of Gaelic is in doubt. In the rich mosaic of the UK’s cultural life, Gaelic, although spoken by just over 130,000 people, flows through the life and identity of Scotland and the UK. In the Western Isles of Scotland it is part of daily life. In Scotland’s cities, pupils in some of the best state schools are immersed in the language. You can even trace its influence in places like Stratford-on-Avon (strath Gaelic for valley, plus abhainn for river) or symbolically, in the most iconic of the British Museum’s artefacts – the Lewis Chessmen.
Within the Gaelic community, traditional speakers and learners alike, Gaelic broadcasting plays a pivotal role. The BBC radio service – imagine the Today programme but with a wilder weather forecast and lamb sale prices instead of financial news – roots the language on the airwaves. Children’s output matches the best of CBBC and television produces programmes that look at the world through a different lens.
Now, as ministers consider the new charter for the BBC, it is imperative they set their commitment to Gaelic in stone and at the same time settle a secure funding model. Even with very limited resources a Gaelic television detective series, An t-Eilean, won two prestigious TV awards on the European stage last year. To continue its success, to make more high impact drama, and to make the essential shift from linear to digital broadcasting, MG Alba (Gaelic Media Service) needs better funding.
Although MG Alba was created by legislation at Westminster, there is no UK funding. MG Alba is funded solely, if inadequately, by the Scottish government. Its investment was frozen for 10 years until the now-departed minister for Gaelic, Kate Forbes, allocated £1.8m in her last budget bringing the total to £15m.
The new charter is key to securing the future of BBC and the UK’s only Gaelic television service.
While the licence fee funds S4C, the Welsh broadcaster, to the tune of nearly £100m in cash and a further £22m of programmes every year, MG Alba currently receives £10m in programmes and resources and access to the iPlayer. No cash.
Within the Gaelic community, traditional speakers and learners alike, Gaelic broadcasting plays a pivotal role
The Gaelic lobby is not arguing for the same amount of money as Wales. Rather, it is asking for parity of esteem, pressing for a single funding mechanism for BBC Alba.
This can by achieved if the Culture Secretary, in consultation with ministers in the Scottish Parliament, determines the annual funding for BBC Alba in the same way and at the same time as they do for S4C.
Such an annual settlement will clarify how much funding will be applied by the BBC from the licence fee, and how much funding Scottish ministers will provide to Ofcom to pay for MG Alba.
There is a chink of light on the horizon as ministers wrestle with the BBC Charter review. For the first time, the UK’s green paper to launch the discussion and negotiations about the new charter mentions MG Alba. It talks about “supporting the sustainability of minority language broadcasting” and adds that “we will consider options for providing MG Alba with more certainty over its funding as part of the charter review”.
That is good news but only a start.
A small investment is the lever to huge economic growth in the rural and island areas from which the broadcast service springs. Gaelic broadcasting already supports 350 jobs, and a recent report shows the service returns £1.34 for every £1 spent.
The bottom line is that by supporting Gaelic broadcasting the UK government will protect and grow one of the most distinct and ancient cultures of the British Isles in the 21st century. It is a small ask for priceless returns.
Baroness MacLeod of Camusdarach is a Labour peer
