"I understood Scots is/was a dialect - a form of English , and Gaelic is a language.
The Scots can disuss this matter amongst themselves - as the Lowlanders and Highlanders - seem to disagree with each other."

Scots couldn't be (a dialect) as it itself has various quite distince dialects. It it is a series of dialects right enough. Scots is no more or no less a form of English as Gaelic is a form of Irish. Offically both Scots and Gaelic are recognised as distinct languages of Scotland by everyone that matters. That is the Scottish Education system; the Scottish govt; the UK govt and the EU. I don't know where you get the Lowlander v Highlander thing as just about everyone I know who is supportive of Scots is also supportive of Gaelic and vice-versa.