§ 1. Mr. Peytonasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement concerning the proposed extensions to the runways at the Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton; and the effect of those extensions upon the village of Yeovilton.
§ The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Wingfield Digby)Extensions of the runways at the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton are required to enable the station to handle modern types of naval jet aircraft now in production. It is true that the use of these aircraft may produce more noise. Certain advantages will, however, accrue from the lengthening of the runways in that the paths of aircraft in the air will be further away from the village, both when taking off and when approaching to land, than has been the case in the past.
§ Mr. PeytonIs my hon. Friend aware that there is no other village in the country which has on two sides and at a very close distance runways to be used by jet aircraft? Is he further aware that it is the view of many of the inhabitants of that village that the conditions of life there will become entirely intolerable for them when these proposals have been completed?
§ Mr. DigbyI am very sorry that there is bound to be some inconvenience to those living in the village. I was there myself last Friday. Everything it is possible for us to do is being done to make that inconvenience as little as possible.