Mr. T. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his Department is consulted by local authorities before these incur expense by laying out aerodromes which may not conform to the type advocated by the Maybury Committee for use by commercial aircraft in all conditions of visibility; and, if not, whether he will consider issuing a general warning?
Captain BalfourThe Air Ministry is normally consulted and in addition the Ministry of Health, whose sanction for raising loans in the case of England and Wales is necessary, consult the Air Ministry in regard to applications relating to the establishment of aerodromes. A pamphlet entitled "The principles governing the planning and zoning of land aerodromes" has been prepared by the Air Ministry and is in the course of issue to local authorities. Further the local authorities specified in Section 8 of the Air Navigation Act, 1920, as amended by the Air Navigation Act of 1936 can establish and maintain aerodromes only with the consent of my right hon. Friend and this in itself constitutes a warning. I do not think that any further action is necessary.