Representation of the People Bill: Letter to UK Government

Parliamentary Business Minister Jamie Hepburn has written to his UK Government counterpart regarding proposed amendments to the UK Government's Representation of the People Bill

Minister for Parliamentary Business Jamie Hepburn has called on the UK Government to strongly oppose legislative amendments which could ban the use of Gaelic, Scots or British Sign Language in election campaign materials.

In a letter to the UK Democracy Minister Samantha Dixon, Mr Hepburn said he wished to register concern about two proposed non-government amendments to the UK Government's Representation of the People bill. These are Amendment NC107, which sets out that election materials can only be in English and Welsh, and Amendment NC 67, which seeks to prohibit materials in a native language of any foreign country outside the British Islands.

In the letter, Mr Hepburn said:

Aspects of these amendments appear to have the potential to impact upon matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament. I am concerned that NC107 in particular takes no account of Gaelic, Scots or British Sign Language.

As you will know, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, and BSL are all legally recognised languages in Scotland, and the ethos of our respect for these languages run contrary to these amendments which show an entire lack of understanding of Scotland.

I also consider that these amendments do not meet the principle of encouraging full participation in the democratic process. I am therefore keen to obtain your reassurance that they will be strongly opposed by the UK Government.