HC Deb 06 April 1971 vol 815 c101W
Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act, 1968, which empower Her Majesty's Government to prohibit foreign commercial supersonic jet flights over the United Kingdom; and how he will enforce such powers against aircraft travelling in excess of 1,400 miles per hour.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Section 19 of the Act gives the necessary powers. Should a prohibition be imposed there is ample time to devise the precise method of enforcement but the following considerations are relevant:

  1. (1) Supersonic aircraft will be operated by major airlines only and it is highly improbable that they would deliberately disregard our regulations.
  2. (2) The routes and times of aircraft flying commercially along the airways over the United Kingdom are known by way of the Air Traffic Control system.
  3. (3) The boom itself would provide evidence of supersonic flight.