HL Deb 23 July 1973 vol 344 cc1541-2

[Nos. 4 and 5]

Clause 9, page 8, line 28, after "direction" insert "in writing".

Clause 9, page 8, Line 44, after "direction" insert "in writing".

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I beg to move that the House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 4 and 5. The purpose of these Amendments is to provide that any directions under Clauses 9, 10 and 11 should be given in writing. Where it is necessary to give urgent direction for immediate implementation—for example, if we receive information that there is a bomb on a particular aircraft or at a particular aerodrome involving the need to give an immediate direction that the aircraft or the aerodrome should be searched or that an aircraft or the aerodrome or part of it should be guarded—we would then advise the aircraft operator or the aerodrome manager by telephone that a particular direction was given. The direction would not have any legal validity until it was furnished in writing, but we do not expect this to lead to any special difficulty in practice. I beg to move.

Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—[Lord Drumalbyn.]

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, this is a point we raised. This makes the provision much clearer, and I am grateful to the noble Lord.