§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what Regulations he lays down with regard to the spraying of crops from the air; and what investigations and inspections are regularly made to see whether they are complied with.
§ Mr. DellArticle 38(2)(f) of the Air Navigation Order 1974 (S.I. 1974 No. 1114) provides that articles may not be dropped for the purposes of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, from aircraft in flight without the prior permission of the Civil Aviation Authority. The inspection of the operator and his facilities is a matter for the Authority, but I am informed that it is the practice to inspect operators while they are actually spraying at least once a year. Permissions granted under Article 38 in no way override the requirements of Article 44 of the Air Navigation Order, which forbids anyone negligently or wifully to cause or permit an aircraft to endanger persons or property.