United Kingdom/ 5.1 General legislation  

5.1.9 Language laws

Specific legal provisions for the use of indigenous or foreign languages in the culture industries exist in Scotland, where the Gaelic Television Fund was set up to grant-aid Gaelic television production under the Broadcasting Act 1990, and in Wales, where the grant-aided Welsh Fourth Channel Authority was established by the Broadcasting Act 1980 to provide a Welsh language television service.

The Communications Act 2003 established a new Gaelic broadcasting body, Seirbhis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service), with wider powers to secure the provision in Scotland of a range of high quality and diverse Gaelic television and radio programmes. However, progress towards securing a Gaelic digital channel has been slow and marked by delays concerning jurisdiction between the UK government and the Scottish government. The 2003 Act also introduced amendments to the Welsh Authority's public service remit, but retained the provision of Welsh language broadcasting as its core.