HC Deb 16 February 1966 vol 724 c1297
9. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will impose a silent period in respect of night landings and take-offs from London Airport, Heath row.

Mr. Mulley

I have sympathy for this suggestion. But bearing in mind the penalties which would be involved for air travellers, for freight traffic and for the airlines, I am afraid I cannot add to the severe restrictions already in force.

Mr. Jenkins

Will not my right hon. Friend accept that severer restrictions than these are imposed by most other airports in most other parts of the world, especially those near capitals? Does he sleep with his windows open? Will he stop forcing my constituents to choose between being suffocated and being deafened?

Mr. Mulley

I am afraid that it is inevitable that those living near airports will suffer from noise. The problem is to strike a balance between the claims of the users of air transport, on the one hand, and local residents, on the other. I do not accept that other capital cities have the kind of ban for which my hon. Friend asks.

Mr. Hogg

As one of the constituents of the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) who is most affected, may I ask the Minister if he is aware that the hon. Gentleman has somewhat exaggerated the nuisance?

Mr. Mulley

This is inevitably a question of in which part of my hon. Friend's constituency a particular resident happens to live.