Park said that he believes situating the register in the Highlands would “prove a significant tourist attraction and create a number of jobs.”   

He said: "The Highlands is a natural place to consider locating this new venture, which will prove a significant tourist attraction and create a number of jobs. Not only is the Highlands the geographical centre of the historic legacy of tartan but we also boast a wealth of experience and knowledge of tartan." 

Councillor Park, who has written to the First Minister Alex Salmond to welcome the Government’s intention to create a National Tartan Register, has also contacted the Chairman of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise William Roe to seek support for the bid to see the register situated in the Highlands.  

Park’s comments were prompted by an initial request for the register to be located in the Highlands from Lib Dem Councillor for Inverness Milburn Kenneth MacLeod.  Responding to Park’s request MacLeod said: "I recognise that a lot of the manufacturing of tartan is conducted outwith the Highlands, but nonetheless the clan system and roots from which tartan has come is within the Highlands and Islands and I think we have a good claim to have the Register established here." 

The register, which is to be created to “protect, promote and preserve” the National symbol, was announced by Enterprise Minister Jim Mather in July. The Lord Lyon’s office and the National Archive will work together in collating the register.  The idea was first introduced by Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor in the Parliament’s previous session, after it had gathered cross-party support and was backed by the tartan industry.