§ Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be in a position to respond to Ross and Cromarty district council's proposal to erect seven bilingual tourist signs at points of entry to the district; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Office has received numerous requests from regional and district councils to further relax the design rules to permit boundary signs to carry more information to help project corporate identities, including a request from Ross and Cromarty district council for bilingual tourist signs. In order to achieve a fair and consistent policy in these matters the Scottish Office propose to issue for consultation by the end of April draft guidance on tourist signposting, which will include proposals for council boundary signs. Decisions will be taken later this year in the light of responses received from consultees.