HC Deb 13 February 1956 vol 548 c2067
41. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will take steps to assist British aircraft manufacturers to acquire the silencer for jet aircraft produced by the Boeing Airplane Company; and if he will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. F. J. Erroll)

So far as I am aware, the Boeing silencer follows the design of a silencer developed by Rolls-Royce under contract with the Ministry of Supply. Flight tests of the Rolls-Royce silencer will start shortly; meanwhile, details of the Rolls-Royce design have been made available to other firms in the British aircraft industry.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

While I thank my hon. Friend for his Answer, may I ask him to encourage manufacturers of jet aircraft to fit the Rolls-Royce silencer, as that will give a great deal of satisfaction to those who live around London Airport?

Mr. Erroll

It is a complicated design matter, but all firms are fully aware of the importance of trying to reduce the noise of aircraft by every means at their disposal.