HC Deb 17 December 1964 vol 704 cc567-70

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

117. Mr. A. E. HUNTER

To ask the Minister of Aviation if he will now make a statement about his policy regarding night jet traffic at Heathrow Airport for 1965.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation (Mr. John Stonehouse)

I will now answer Question No. 117.

We have decided to change the hours during which the limit of night jet movements should apply. Last summer the hours were 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Next summer the hours will be 11.30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

During the designated night period last summer, 5,500 movements were allowed. Next summer the number to be allowed during the revised night period is 3,500.

This represents a reduction of 700 movements between the hours of 11.30 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the figure for the same period last year.

This part of the night—between 11.30 p.m. and 6 a.m. —should, therefore, be less noisy than it has been, while there will be an increase in movements between 11 and 11.30 p.m. and between 6 and 7 a.m. The night take-off noise limit of 102 perceived noise decibels will continue to apply between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., as now.

Mr. Hunter

In thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he has discussed this matter with the Heathrow Consultative Committee and, if so, what is its reaction?

Mr. Stonehouse

Both the airlines and the Committee have been consulted. I am very glad to say that I met the Committee last week and that it approved of this new arrangement with only one vote against.

Mr. Maude

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether, in consultation the airlines, all agreed willingly to this proposal? Secondly, could he say whether the Government decided not to proceed, as the last Government decided, with the recommendations of the Wilson Committee in regard to the grants for soundproofing of houses?

Mr. Stonehouse

The airlines did not all agree, because they would have liked to have had more flights during this particular night period of 11.30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

In reply to the second point, our discussions are continuing on this matter.

Sir B. Craddock

May I ask whether further arrangements are being made for the measurement of noise at this particular time during the night?

Mr. Stonehouse

The existing arrangements are continuing, that is, to check all take-offs by jets at Heathrow, and, of course, we are continuing research in this direction.

Mr. A. Royle

While appreciating the work which the hon. Gentleman himself has done on this, may I ask whether he is aware that his statement will be greeted with gloom and despondency by those people who live beneath the glide path into London Airport? In view of the pledge given by the Prime Minister, when he said he would stop night jet flights for a period of each night—which pledge he has not kept, like all the other pledges he made during the election—when will the hon. Gentleman carry out this pledge and stop night jet flights into the airport at night?

Mr. Stonehouse

I would advise the hon. Gentleman, before he attempts to make a point like that again, to read in full the statement made by my right hon. Friend. He will then see that he is inaccurate. So far as a ban on night jet flights is concerned, we did, of course, consider this, but feel that it would be too great an economic burden on the airlines.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

While any improvement will be welcomed by the people in the area, will my hon. Friend note that it will be regarded as only part of the measures towards further improvement of this situation? Will he continue the policy of carrying out these improvements. whether the airline companies are willing or unwilling?

Mr. Stonehouse

We shall certainly bear all these points in mind.

Mr. Marten

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the estimated loss of revenue to the airport due to this action?

Mr. Stonehouse

We expect the airlines to readjust their flights in and out of Heathrow and to bear in mind the new revision of restrictions, and we also hope that more of them will fly into Gatwick, so that we shall have increased throughput there.

Mr. A. Royle

In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's statement, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.