EDUCATION secretary Mike Russell yesterday rounded on critics of public spending on Gaelic, accusing them of "prejudice" towards the language. Speaking as more than £5 million of new funding was announced for the language Mr Russell said hostility towards Gaelic was due to the language not being given its proper place in the past.

"There remain those who are unconvinced either that the language has, or should have a future," he said. "In recent months we have also seen some harsh criticism of the promotion of Gaelic in Scotland. Questions have even been raised about the value of any support for Gaelic. Some such criticism will always be with us – that is the nature of life. But some of the recent commentary has shamed Scotland. And the argument that continuing public support for Gaelic is a misuse of public funds is not a view, but a prejudice."