HL Deb 10 December 1958 vol 213 c166

2.43 p.m.

LORD SOM̃ERS

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider the desirability of banning all public advertising and other disfigurements of this type on the new motorways.]

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport and Civil, Aviation is equally anxious that unnecessary advertisements should not impinge upon the new motorways. No advertising will be permitted on land acquired for the motorways except at the service areas, where advertisements will be permitted only to the extent necessary for the information of motorway users.

Control of advertisements in general is exercised by local planning authorities, in accordance with the regulations under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947. My right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government has already asked local planning authorities to ensure that advertisements which are harmful to amenity or dangerous to traffic will not be allowed on land adjacent to the motorways. He has also suggested that they might consider seeking his approval to extend along the motorways the areas of special control in which, among other restrictions, large-scale advertising is prohibited.

LORD SOM̃ERS

My Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for that very satisfying answer, may I ask him whether his right honourable friend the Minister has made any particular statement as to advertisements for alcoholic drinks?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, my right honourable friend has not yet made his decision. I should like to thank the noble Lord for his kind reception of my Answer.