§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what progress has been made in the review of signposting for tourist purposes; and if he will viake a statement;
(2) when he expects to publish his Department's circular on tourist signposting;
(3) if he will publish a list of those individuals and bodies who were consulted and who submitted evidence to the body undertaking the review of signposting for tourist purposes;
(4) on what date did the review of signposting for tourist purposes commence; and what are the reasons for the delay in producing the circular.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonA range of new signs for tourist attractions was first proposed in 1988 in the context of the review of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1981. The bodies who were consulted in Scotland included local roads authorities, the Scottish tourist board, the Highlands and Islands development board, police forces, motoring organisations, road safety organisations and bus and transport associations. Comments received were mostly from regional and islands councils, but also from the STB, the HIDB, the AA and bus interests. Subsequently, a review of tourist signposting was taken forward in seminars arranged respectively by the Scottish Office (in October 1989), the Scottish tourist board (in February 1990) and the Highlands and Islands development board, in conjunction with Highland regional council (in September 1990). Close to 250 delegates attended these seminars in total, representing the widest possible range of interests in the tourism sector.
As a consequence of all the input obtained from the exchanges of views at these seminars and thereafter, comprehensive guidelines have been drawn up in close consultation with the Scottish tourist board, the Scottish Confederation of Tourism and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. These guidelines will be sent out in draft for comment by the various interests in the very near future. It has been a long process, but the subject is complex and the views are many, and often conflicting.