§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the display of advertisements on captive balloons.
§ Mr. RidleyI yesterday laid before the House the Civil Aviation (Aerial Advertising) (Captive Balloons) Regulations 1984. The regulations come into operation on 2 May 1984 and will permit captive balloons to be used for aerial advertising provided the balloon is flown no more than 60m above the ground; is more than lm, but not more than 7m in any linear dimension; and does not exceed 700 cu ft in capacity.
My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Scotland yesterday laid before Parliament regulations which will include provisions formally for bringing captive balloon advertisements within the control of local planning authorities, when the height of the balloon does not exceed 60m above ground level.
However, in recognition of the fact that advertising balloons are usually flown for very short periods, there will be a limited "exemption" from control for a maximum of 10 days in any one calendar year. The exemption will apply to a single balloon flown on a site, and will not be available within any national park, conservation area, area of outstanding natural beauty or area of special control of advertisements in England and Wales. Similar arrangements will apply in Scotland.