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Road Signs and Markings: Languages

Asked by Andrew RosindellReform UKDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 8 September 2025UIN 70338

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her department's policy to ban (a) bilingual and (b) and foreign language street signs.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

Traffic signs are regulated through the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. This does not permit languages other than English to be used in England. Traffic signs is a devolved matter with the Scottish and Welsh Governments being responsible for policy on signing within Scotland and Wales. Scottish Gaelic is permitted on some traffic signs in Scotland. Traffic signs in Wales are required to be bilingual in Welsh and English.

Decisions on what to name streets are a matter for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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