§ 12. Mr. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will take action to stop night flying from the Strubby Aerodrome, in response to the petition signed by 98 villagers from Maltby-le-Marsh, most of whom are agricultural workers, and who feel doubly the loss of sleep owing to night flying during the harvest season when their work is unusually heavy.
§ Mr. C. I. Orr-EwingNight flying is an essential part of the training undertaken at Strubby and I am afraid we cannot agree that it should stop. So far as possible, flying is completed before midnight with the object of limiting disturbance, but it may sometimes be necessary to go on later, particularly if the programme has been held up by bad weather.
§ Mr. OsborneMy constituents are well aware that some night-flying must take place, but will my hon. Friend look into the position to ensure that night flying is kept to the minimum?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingThat is done, and will continue to be done. I would point out that of all the nights in September and October, night flying took place after midnight on only five. Naturally, we try to keep down the disturbance to an absolute minimum.