SIR Nicholas Fairbairn, forced into the wings through illness,

commanded centre stage again yesterday with one of his first public

appearances since being hit by a stomach illness.

The Tory MP for Perth and Kinross, was somewhat less flamboyantly

dressed than normal, but no less controversial, when he opened a hotel

extension in Crieff.

He still found time to slate former Scottish Tourist Board chairman

Alan Devereux for his comments last week in describing much of Scotland

as ''sloppy, self-centred, and morally rudderless''.

Sir Nicholas said: ''I thought it was rather dog-in-a-manger that

having presided over the tourist industry for however many years that he

did, in Scotland, the moment he left his kennel he turned around and

told us that the industry was appalling.

''As Norman Lamont reminded the Chancellor yesterday, when all the

good industrial news was greeted, eggs don't hatch in a fortnight.''

Sir Nicholas, 59, left Murrayfield Hospital, Edinburgh, at the end of

May after being detained for a week with a gastro-intestinal complaint.

The former Solicitor-General for Scotland admitted that his doctor had

ordered that his normally ''colourful'' lifestyle should take a back

seat for the moment.

Sir Nicholas, who resumed his parliamentary duties only two weeks ago,

yesterday toasted the opening of a #200,000 eight-bedroom extension at

the Murraypark Hotel, Crieff, with a glass of soda water.

The 21-bedroom hotel is owned by Mr Noel Scott and his wife Ann,

daughter of Scottish industrialist and hotel chairman, Sir Ross Belch.

Sir Ross said it was ''particularly gratifying'' that the hotel's

success warranted expansion. He was hopeful that it was an indication of

increasing activity on the business scene.

The two men later launched 25 blue balloons bearing the hotel's name.

One of which carries a prize of a weekend for two at the hotel for the

person who retrieves it.