HC Deb 24 April 1968 vol 763 cc229-30
32. Mr. Hiley

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will carry out a noise level survey at the Leeds and Bradford Airport.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

No, Sir. This is a matter for the airport authority, the Leeds and Bradford Airport Joint Committee.

Mr. Hiley

There is a good deal of anxiety and confusion in the district due to the conflicting statements of the various parties interested in the problem of noise. It would greatly assist many of us, including local Members of Parliament, if we had some information which would help us to decide what our attitude should be.

Mr. Mallalieu

I think that the information could best come from the Airport Authority, but the hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that there has now been formed a local association for the control of aircraft noise, which is doing a useful and persistent job.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

The hon. Gentleman says that this was a matter for the Leeds and Bradford Airport Authority, but what is the statutory obligation on that authority to carry out aircraft noise tests when it is not willing to do so?

Mr. Mallalieu

I cannot believe that a consortium of local authorities, as the elected representatives, would not take note of the representations of their constituents who live in and around the district.

Mr. Onslow

Will the Minister give an undertaking that if a local authority wants to carry out such a survey he will help it?

Mr. Mallalieu

If a local authority wants to carry out a survey, we will give it all the help that it wants.