MSP launches bill to create tartan register
26 Mar 08
Register would hold details of designs currently in private hands
Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor has launched a member's bill to create the first ever publicly owned Scottish National Register of Tartan.
The register, which has the support of the Scottish Government, will contain information about tartan designs held in private hands, which can be accessed by the public. It will be created and maintained by the National Archives of Scotland, with help from tartan industry experts.
Mr McGrigor said he was launching the bill to acknowledge tartan’s contribution to Scotland’s heritage and economy. He added that the proposals for the register would be at minimum cost to the taxpayer because they would use the existing public sector expertise and infrastructure – there would be no creation of a new public body.
The tartan industry is estimated to contribute some £350 million to the Scottish economy.