HC Deb 21 January 1937 vol 319 cc344-5
55. Mr. Simmonds

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has called the attention of local authorities to the importance of their preventing the erection of buildings in the immediate vicinity of aerodromes unless in accordance with the Air Navigation Act, 1936?

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Sir Philip Sassoon)

I am not quite clear what my hon. Friend has in mind. I think local authorities and their advisers are alive to their powers under the Act of last year and to the importance of using those powers, or the powers under the Town and Country Planning Act, to prevent building encroachments in the neighbourhood of aerodromes. The Air Ministry is always most ready to advise in regard to such a matter.

Mr. Simmonds

Is it not a fact that recently there have been very serious accidents involving many deaths, due to the presence of houses near the confines of aerodromes and is it not, therefore, most important that local authorities should prevent the erection of new houses where further accidents may be caused?

Sir P. Sassoon

The local authorities have power under the Air Navigation Act.