HC Deb 24 November 1983 vol 49 cc251-2W
Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect he estimates the requirement to seek planning permission for the displaying of advertising on captive balloons will have on the viability of those businesses currently engaged in providing such a service; and on what evidence he bases that estimate.

Mr. Macfarlane

My right hon. Friend has been told by representatives of firms who manufacture and market advertising balloons that the need to obtain "express consent" for them, from the local planning authority, will be disproprtionately costly in relation to the short duration of many balloon displays. Information about the financial viability of individual firms is not available to my right hon. Friend; but he will be glad to consider any representations they may wish to make to him, in commercial confidence.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of current advertising by way of captive balloons he estimates to be impulse advertising; and on what evidence he bases that estimate.

Mr. Mcfarlane

Almost all forms of captive balloon advertising are at present unlawful, by virtue of provisions in the Civil Aviation (Aerial Advertising) Regulations 1971, and my right hon. Friend has made no estimate of how much of this advertising takes place on impulse. Representatives of firms who manufacture and market advertising balloons have told my right hon. Friend that a considerable proportion of their business results from decisions taken "on impulse".

Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the individuals and organisations with whom his Department consulted before deciding that it would be appropriate to require the displaying of advertising on captive balloons to gain planning permission.

Mr. Macfarlane

Following is the list of organisations which my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for the Environment, formally consulted in October 1982:

  • The Outdoor Advertising Council
  • The British Sign Association
  • The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers Ltd.
  • The Association of District Councils
  • The Association of County Councils
  • The Association of Metropolitan Authorities
  • The London Boroughs Association
  • The Law Society
  • The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • The Royal Institute of British Architects
  • The Royal Town Planning Institute
  • The Civic Trust
  • The Council for the Protection of Rural England

My right hon. Friend also received and considered representations from a number of individual firms engaged in manufacturing and marketing advertising balloons, and from several hon. Members who have him their views about whether this form of advertising should be subject to control by local planning authorities.