Tourism

HC Deb 05 November 1987 vol 121 cc863-4W

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the existing rules and procedures adopted by the relevant local authorities and other statutory bodies interested in the application and development of a coherent valid signposting policy for tourism in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Following discussions with the Scottish Tourist Board and other interested bodies, the Scottish Development Department issued circulars (numbered 17/83, 29/85 and 29/86) which set out the criteria for tourist signs and the procedures to be followed by applicants for signs. The Department, in consultation with tourist interests and local roads authorities, continues to monitor the effects of existing

	Number of objections from
Year	Number of applications objected to	Local authorities	Other statutory bodies	Decisions taken on these applications
1982	1	—	1	Approved
1983	2	—	2	1 Refused
				1 Approved
1984	7	1	6	4 Refused
				3 Approved
1985	5	4	3	3 Refused
				2 Approved
1986	1	1	1	Approved
1987	13	9	7	4 Refused
to date				4 Approved
				5 Pending

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications he has received under the forestry grant scheme since the relaxation in March 1986 of policy toward land clearance for afforestation; what area of land is covered by these applications; how many applications have been approved; what area of land is covered by these approvals; and what proportion of the applications and of the approvals are from owners of estates and from farmers farming their own land, respectively.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

In the period 1 April 1986 to 30 September 1987 the Forestry Commission received 1,448 forestry grant scheme applications in Scotland, covering approximately 147,000 hectares of land. Within that period 1,080 applications were approved, relating to approximately 110,000 hectares. Information about the status of applicants is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

policies and to examine the merits of further innovations. In general, I am satisfied that the procedures are working well.