LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHMy Lords, I have given the noble Lord who represents the Home Office notice of a Question. The House is aware that I introduced a Bill early in the session for the regulation of advertisements, and I understand that he has some communication from the Home Office as to what they are likely to do. Obviously it is too late in the session to proceed with the Bill now, but in asking leave of the House to withdraw the Bill I wish to ask the noble Lord whether he can give any indication of the views of the Home Office.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, I regret that the Government cannot at present give any promise to introduce legislation to strengthen the existing law relating to the regulation of advertisements or to support a private Bill on the subject, although we sympathise with the idea of preventing unsightly advertisements from disfiguring the landscape and recognise that the existing law is defective. The question of amending the law in such a way as to secure the proper regulation of advertisements without undue interference with the advertising industry is one of difficulty, and that difficulty is increased by the fact that disfigurement is a question on which tastes and opinions vary. All that I can say at present, in answer to the noble Lord, is that in framing any legislation on the subject attention should be given to the importance of securing that as far as practicable the regulations are simple and clear and certain in their effect. I think that my noble friend is aware that suggestions have been made by those who were interested in the Bill as to the lines on which a Bill might be framed which would not be open to the objections which I ventured to suggest in the debate on the Second Reading. If the noble Lord will introduce a Bill on those lines next session it will, I have no doubt, receive the sympathetic consideration of the Govern- 280 ment, but I cannot give any definite promise at the present moment in regard to any action which may he adopted next Session.