The Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-11-30)

These Regulations bring into force sections 1, 2, 7, 9(1), 9(2)(c), 9(6), 10 to 16, 18 to 20, 23, 26, 27, 31, 32(1), 32(5), 32(8), 33, 37 to 39, 41 and 46 of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 (“the Act”) for all purposes on 30 November 2025 (“the appointed date”).

Scottish Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 348 (C. 24)

SCOTTISH LANGUAGES

The Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025

Made

11th November 2025

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

13th November 2025

Coming into force

30th November 2025

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 48(2) and (3) of the Scottish Languages Act 2025(1 (\"#f00001\"))and all other powers enabling them to do so.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 30 November 2025.

(2) In these Regulations—

“the 2005 Act” means the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005(2 (\"#f00002\")),

“the 2016 Act” means the Education (Scotland) Act 2016(3 (\"#f00003\")),

“the Act” means the Scottish Languages Act 2025.

Appointed day

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), 30 November 2025 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Act specified in column 1 of the schedule of these Regulations (the subject matter of which is described in the corresponding entry in column 2 of the schedule).

(2) Where a purpose is specified in column 3 of the schedule, the corresponding provision specified in column 1 comes into force in accordance with paragraph (1) only for that purpose.

KATE FORBES

A member of the Scottish Government

St Andrew's House,

Edinburgh

11th November 2025

Regulation 2

ScheduleProvisions to be commenced

Column 1 Provisions of the ActColumn 2 Subject matterColumn 3 PurposeSection 1Status of the Gaelic languageSection 2Functions of Bòrd na GàidhligSection 7Functions of relevant public authoritiesSection 9(1)Gaelic language plansSection 9(2)(a)Gaelic language plansFor the purpose of substituting section 3(3)(a) of the 2005 ActSection 9(2)(b)Gaelic language plansFor the purpose of substituting section 3(5)(a) of the 2005 ActSection 9(2)(b)Gaelic language plansFor the purpose of inserting section 3(5)(ab) of the 2005 ActSection 9(2)(c)Gaelic language plansSection 9(6)Gaelic language plansSection 10Financial assistance for the promotion etc. of the Gaelic languageSection 11Scottish Ministers’ powers relating to research etc.Section 12Power to enforce duties of relevant public authoritiesSection 13Interpretation: meaning of relevant public authoritySection 14Land rights and responsibilities statement: regard to be had to supporting GaelicSection 15Duty of Scottish Ministers to promote Gaelic educationSection 16Power for Scottish Ministers to set standards relating to Gaelic educationSection 17Guidance to public authorities relating to Gaelic educationFor the purpose of enabling the Scottish Ministers to consult on guidance under section 6C of the 2016 ActSection 18Production of school education resources in GaelicSection 19General duty to provide education includes Gaelic educationSection 20Duty to promote Gaelic education in exercising functions under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980Section 23Production of material relating to Gaelic education qualificationsSection 26Transport to Gaelic medium education: application of Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010Section 27Assessments: power to make different provision for different areasSection 31Conditions of grants to the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding CouncilSection 32(1)Review of status of Sabhal Mòr OstaigSection 32(5)Review of status of Sabhal Mòr OstaigSection 32(8)Review of status of Sabhal Mòr OstaigSection 33Status of the Scots languageSection 37Power for Scottish Ministers to give guidanceSection 38Financial assistance for the promotion etc. of the Scots languageSection 39Scottish Ministers’ powers relating to research etc.Section 41Guidance to education authorities relating to Scots language educationSection 46Interpretation of Chapter 2

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into force sections 1, 2, 7, 9(1), 9(2)(c), 9(6), 10 to 16, 18 to 20, 23, 26, 27, 31, 32(1), 32(5), 32(8), 33, 37 to 39, 41 and 46 of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 (“the Act”) for all purposes on 30 November 2025 (“the appointed date”).

These Regulations also bring into force the following provisions of the Act on the appointed date, for the purposes specified—

Section 9(2)(a), for the purpose of substituting section 3(3)(a) of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”).

Section 9(2)(b), for the purposes of substituting section 3(5)(a) of the 2005 Act, and inserting section 3(5)(ab) of the 2005 Act.

Section 17, for the purpose of enabling the Scottish Ministers to consult on guidance under section 6C of the Education (Scotland) Act 2016.

The Bill for the Act received Royal Assent on 31 July 2025. Section 48(1) of the Act brought into force Part 3 of the Act on the day after Royal Assent.

(1)

2025 asp 10 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/asp/2025/10\").

(2)

2005 asp 7 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/asp/2005/7\").

(3)

2016 asp 8 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/asp/2016/8\").