§ 26. Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will 68 authorise grants to the Slough Borough Council to enable it to make the construction of houses, flats, schools and the old people's homes at Parlaunt Park, Langley, soundproof from aircraft noise as an experiment in building construction in the proximity of aircraft noise.
§ Mr. CorfieldThe Slough Borough Council recently applied to my right hon. Friend for a grant to cover the cost of experimental soundproofing in some new house property. This application has a number of technical and other implications and he has not yet reached any decision on it. When he does so I will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BrockwayI thank the hon. Member for that reply. In view of the intolerable nuisance of aircraft noise already and the fact that it is bound to develop as air services grow, would it not be desirable to make an experiment of this kind on a new estate when the cost of soundproofing would be much cheaper during construction than after the houses have been built? Might not this be a very useful experiment for the whole country?
§ Mr. CorfieldI accept that if one is to have an experiment it is likely to be cheaper in new houses than in old houses. Nevertheless, apart from anything else, this application raises a difficult legal point as to whether my right hon. Friend has power in this respect. Until that has been settled we cannot make any further progress.