HC Deb 08 December 1965 vol 722 cc398-9
12. Mr. Younger

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will take steps to compensate persons whose homes are made uninhabitable by development and extensions of major airports.

Mr. Stonehouse

My right hon. Friend's powers to pay compensation in respect of houses affected by airport development are limited to cases where the site of the house is required for the development, or where the proximity and height of the house are such that they infringe on internationally agreed requirements for safeguarding airport operations.

Mr. Younger

Due to the move of the terminal building at Prestwick, some of my constituents are living in houses less than 150 yards from the main concourse of the airport. Is it not quite intolerable to have to live so near transatlantic jets warming up their engines, and will the hon. Gentleman make special arrangements in this particular case?

Mr. Stonehouse

We are aware of this particular problem, as the hon. Gentleman has written to us about it, but, if we tried to deal with it, there would be far-reaching consequences for other forms of development as well.

Sir B. Craddock

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many householders in the vicinity of London Heathrow Airport have taken advantage of the Government's scheme for soundproofing their homes?

Mr. Stonehouse

That is another question. I shall look out the information and write to the hon. Gentleman.