HL Deb 31 May 1949 vol 162 cc1260-1

3.14 p.m.

LORD CROOK

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether attention has been called to the use, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, of an aircraft for the purpose of declaiming election slogans by means of amplifier and loudspeaker; and whether the Minister of Civil Aviation has any powers to restrict the use of aircraft in this way, and if not whether he will take such powers.]

LORD PAKENHAM

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for drawing my attention to the incident. Provided that the aircraft is operated in accordance with the provisions of the air navigation regulations, I have no power as Minister of Civil Aviation to restrict the use of aircraft for the purposes mentioned in the Question. Inquiries in this case have shown that the pilot was not guilty of any breach of those regulations. However, at the request of my right honourable friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, in the exercise of his powers under Defence Regulations 55 and 55AA as applied by the Motor Fuel (Control) Order, 1948, I recently informed all air charter companies that during the present period of petrol shortage no owner of a charter aircraft may use his fuel allowance for any form of sky advertising. The owner of the aircraft in question has now been warned that the restriction applies to sky-shouting, as well as to other forms of sky-advertising.

LORD CROOK

My Lords, may I thank my noble friend, and ask whether similar warnings will be given to the owners of two or three other aircraft similarly offending?

LORD PAKENHAM

My Lords, if the noble Lord will bring such cases to my notice, I will take appropriate steps.

VISCOUNT SWINTON

My Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask whether this prohibition will extend to land-shouting by Ministers from official motorcars?

LORD PAKENHAM

My Lords, that is outside my Department, but I feel sure that the noble Viscount will agree that land-shouting by members of all Parties should be watched with the greatest care.