§ 17. Captain HAROLD BALFOURasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is yet in a position to make any statement in regard to the appointment of an independent commit- 830 tee to investigate the possibility of the relaxation of the Air Ministry control over private flying and kindred questions?
§ Sir P. SASSOONYes, Sir. The subject mentioned has been under review by an official committee for some time past. My Noble Friend expects to receive their report in the near future and has decided that the whole question shall then be remitted to an authoritative non-official committee, which will include representatives of the interests primarily concerned, e.g., private owners and the aircraft manufacturing industry.
§ Captain BALFOURCan my right hon. Friend forecast how long it will be before his Noble Friend Will be in a position to set up the Committee?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI should say early this summer.
§ 18. Mr. LOVAT-FRASERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if, in view of the annoyance caused in centres of population by the noise of joy flying, he will take steps to control and regulate joy flying so as to prevent its being a nuisance to the community?
§ Sir P. SASSOONRegulations are already in force forbidding low flying over populated areas. It is for the police to deal with breaches of these regulations, and it is not considered that new and repressive measures would be justified. It must be borne in mind that without a widespread public demand for so-called joy-riding facilities, the commercial organisations which cater for this demand would not exist, and my Noble Friend considers that, with good sense and mutual forbearance on the part of all concerned, any inconvenience should be reduced to a minimum.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESIs the right hon. Baronet aware of the growing annoyance in the Hendon district caused by firing by officers in the evening, when children are about to go to bed?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe Air Ministry is doing everything in its power to mitigate the annoyance.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the right hon. Baronet taking advantage of all this science that is before him to overcome the back-firing in these engines?
§ Sir P. SASSOONYes, we are doing everything we can.