§ 51 and 52. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Supply (1) what steps he took during 1952–53 to secure co-operation between allied countries in research on the problem of the abatement of noise of aircraft engines;
(2) the amount of money spent upon, and the nature of, the research work done during 1952–53 on the problem of the abatement of noise of aircraft engines.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. Duncan Sandys)The Ministry of Supply has maintained close contact with the authorities concerned with this problem 882 in the United States and France; and valuable information has been exchanged. During 1952–53 the Ministry of Supply spent about £40,000 upon this problem. The work comprised general research, special studies of the causes of engine noise and experiments with devices for reducing the sound of jet and exhaust pipes.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes the Minister think that an expenditure of £40,000 is sufficient in view of the urgency of this problem, and would he not agree that this matter of the noise of aircraft engines is probably one of the most important factors in the development of aviation? Will he give the impression that he is treating this matter with some urgency?
§ Mr. SandysI am well aware both of the urgency and the importance of this matter. This is not the only money that is being spent. Work is also being done by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and by the universities. However, I would point out to the hon. Member, who is probably well aware of it already, that this is a most intractable scientific problem. The development of more powerful, and, in consequence, more noisy jet engines is likely, in my opinion, to go ahead more quickly than the invention of means of suppressing the noise. As for the problem of the supersonic bang, I must tell the hon. Gentleman that there is absolutely no solution in sight. In fact, we are probably in for some rather noisy times.