§ 2. Mr. John Grimstonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on how many occasions officers of his Department have exercised their right of entry into private premises in order to extinguish lights.
§ Mr. BeswickSection 53 of the Air Navigation Order authorises the serving of a notice on the owner or occupier of a place, requiring him to extinguish or screen a light, which, by reason of its glare, or because it might be mistaken for a light provided for air navigation purposes, is liable to endanger aircraft. If the requirements of the notice are not met within a specified time, a person, authorised in writing by the Minister, may be empowered to enter the premises and to take such steps as may be necessary to secure compliance.
109 No officers of my Department are at present authorised, nor have ever been authorised, under this provision. The answer to the Question is, therefore, "None, Sir." I may add that a provision of this kind has been in existence since 1922.
§ Mr. GrimstonWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for that answer, may I ask him if he will kindly set a good example to his colleagues by giving up this right of entry?