§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 10 December 1997,Official Report, column 547, concerning signs at airports, if she will require those words which do require to be used to appear additionally in other languages. [21141]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 16 December 1997]: No. Airports already provide supporting information in foreign languages where there is a specific need in a particular part of the airport. But to require the inclusion of foreign languages on signs would risk making them more difficult for passengers to absorb quickly, and would risk offending those whose languages were not used. If the hon. Member has a specific need at a particular airport in mind, he may like to discuss it with the airport management concerned.
I am also taking this opportunity to clarify the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 10 December 1997, Official Report, column 547. The UK follows the Recommended Practice on international signs contained in the Chicago Convention, Annex 9, provision 6.9, which is that the international signs published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation should be used at airports and ports. Among the general principles set out in the joint publication (Document 9636) are that as far as possible symbols should be used without words on signs at airports and ports.