HL Deb 20 June 1961 vol 232 cc488-90

2.38 p.m.

LORD CONESFORD

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what authority gave permission for the advertisement for White Horse whisky recently erected on the roof of a new building at the centre of London Airport to be put there; and whether, for the sake of architectural decency and to avoid injury to our national prestige, they will secure its immediate removal.]

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, the advertisement was sanctioned by my right honourable friend the Minister of Aviation. The rent offered was substantial, and my right honourable friend has an obligation to make our airports pay.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, while commiserating with my noble friend on that Answer, may I question him further? Why do the Government employ a distinguished architect like Mr. Gibberd to design their buildings, and then disfigure his work by such an architectural outrage? Is my noble friend aware that other trading nations, and some of our chief competitors, take great trouble over the architecture, design and appearance of their airports, not only for their own sake but because the resulting prestige is good for trade? Before they allowed this advertisement, what estimate did the Government make of the loss in trade that would result from treating our principal airport in this way?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, that is quite a lot to answer. As regards my noble friend's first supplementary question, it is my understanding that, before the erection of this particular advertisement was sanctioned, the firm of consulting architects to London Airport were consulted, and approved the design. As regards my noble friend's second supplementary question, I am aware that other countries—and this country, too—pay close attention to the design of airport buildings. I think the design of the main buildings at London Airport has a great deal to commend them. As regards my noble friend's third supplementary, I am not aware that any such estimate was made beforehand.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, could the noble Earl say what is the amount of the financial benefit the Government receive from this advertisement?

EARL JELLICOE

I understand that, as I said in my original reply, the rent offered was quite considerable. But I think—and I say this with all deference to my noble friend—it would be contrary to established practice to disclose the details of a particular contract.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, would it have met the Minister's approval if Messrs. Guinness had approached him and had asked him to erect an advertisement declaring that, "Guinness is good for you"? Would he have approved that?—because the principle is the same.

EARL JELLICOE

I think that is an hypothetical question.

BARONESS HORSBRUGH

My Lords, would the noble Earl say whether, however appalling an advertisement is, if it will bring in more money than an advertisement the design of which is more acceptable, the Government will certainly accept the more appalling and the more offensive advertisement?

EARL JELLICOE

No. The answer is that that would not necessarily be the case.

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether it was not necessary to get planning approval for this advertisement? He has referred to the approval of the Minister of Civil Aviation. Did not the local planning authority also have to give permission, and did they do so?

EARL JELLICOE

I am afraid that, frankly, I do not know the answer to that question, but I will look into it and will let the noble Lord know.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, since Mr. Gibberd, the distinguished architect of these buildings, who is himself a member of the Royal Fine Art Commission, is outraged by what has been done to his buildings, could we have the name of the firm of consulting architects who approved this advertisement?

EARL JELLICOE

I do not know whether I should disclose that, but the arm which approved this was, in fact, Mr. Gibberd's own firm.

THE EARL OF LUCAN

My Lords, would the noble Earl draw the attention of his colleagues to the great opportunities for revenue-raising that exist in Central London, such as at Wellington Barracks and the Horse Guards?

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he would be willing to approach his right honourable friend with a view to contacting the airlines and finding out, through their information services at London Airport, the views of the passengers which use London Airport? I understand that there have been quite a number of complaints as to the general appearance of these bottles of whisky. Would the noble Earl not agree that they are completely out of proportion to the buildings themselves, and in extremely bad taste?

EARL JELLICOE

I would certainly agree that it is possible to have æsthetic reservations about these particular advertisements.