§ 34. Sir PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for 1948 Air whether he has received complaints from residents adjacent to the Hendon aerodrome of nuisance caused by low flying, particularly during the week-ends; and what steps he proposes to mitigate this nuisance?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Mr. Montague)Yes, Sir, such complaints have been received from time to time, and my Noble Friend and, indeed, all concerned at the Air Ministry are fully alive to the desirability of lessening any inconvenience caused to residents. It is impossible, however, wholly to remove it, since Hendon aerodrome is an auxiliary Air Force station at which flying is necessarily done to a large extent during week-ends, when alone many of the pilots concerned have time to attend. Orders have been issued prohibiting flying during the hours of Church services on Sunday morning and restricting it as far as possible during those of evening service. Anything in the nature of unnecessary low flying is prohibited, and in suitable cases disciplinary action would be taken against offenders, as I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Southwark, Central (Mr. Day) on 28th May. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that everything that is possible will be done to reduce the inconvenience to residents to a minimum, but I am afraid that noise in the vicinity of an aerodrome is at present inevitable.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI thank the hon. Gentleman for his answer and I appreciate the difficulties there are. Would he be willing for the Secretary of State to discuss the difficulties with representative residents from the neighbour-hood?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEYes, Sir; but I would point out that we have had a discussion on this problem, which is one that affects London all the way round, as well as Hendon.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIf the hon. Gentleman or his chief will receive personal representations, may I arrange that with him?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEYes.
Mr. MACLEANIs it not the case that those living in the vicinity of shunting yards suffer a great deal more nuisance than those living in the vicinity of Hendon aerodrome?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEYes, that is perfectly true. That question is entirely in the hands of the police.
§ Major ROSSHow are the police to act in this matter? Are they provided with parachutes or aeroplanes?
Captain HALLIs it not a fact that this nuisance is most apparent just before the Hendon Pageant and——
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Day.