HC Deb 09 December 1959 vol 615 cc515-6
47. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps he is taking to reduce the noise caused by aeroengines on the ground and in the air.

Mr. Ward

My Department is closely associated with the research being undertaken by the Ministry of Aviation into methods of suppressing engine noise. I am afraid that no easy or early solution to this problem can be expected. In the meantime, we try to plan the programme of flying and the running of engines on the ground so as to reduce disturbance as much as possible.

Mr. de Freitas

So far as noise on the ground during testing and so on is concerned, can the Secretary of State say that the Royal Air Force has at least as good facilities for suppressing this noise as B.E.A. and B.O.A.C.?

Mr. Ward

I think so. The task now is to get them better, and to conduct research for the future. In these matters we are working very closely with the Americans, who are making certain experiments, and also with the Ministry of Aviation, which is undertaking other experiments.

Mr. de Freitas

Of course, I want it to get better and to look to the future, but can the right hon. Gentleman tell us that the facilities at present at the Royal Air Force bases are at least as good as those of the two Corporations?

Mr. Ward

If the hon. Gentleman is talking about such things as silencing pens, I should like notice of that, as I am not sure what is the position. I doubt whether our facilities are quite as good as the Corporations'. We have many more airfields to cover. Wherever possible, however, the testing and running-up are done away from inhabited places.