HC Deb 26 November 1969 vol 792 cc396-8
6. Mr. Onslow

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made in his discussions with the United States and French authorities on international noise certification standards for aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

25. Mr. Corfield

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate the results of his discussions with representatives of the Government of the United States of America in regard to maximum permitted noise levels of both subsonic and supersonic aircraft, both in flight and at landing and take-off, operating between the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

36. Mr. Barnes

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of the proposals for an international aircraft noise certification scheme, which Great Britain, France and the United States of America are submitting to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Mr. Mason

The progress of tripartite work on noise certification standards for the next generation of subsonic jet transport aircraft has been reported to the International Civil Aviation Organisation. This work will be discussed at an I.C.A.O. Special Meeting on Aircraft Noise next month. We shall press for early agreement on a practicable international scheme to secure the progressive introduction of the much quieter aircraft which are now technically possible.

It is still too early to make proposals for noise standards for new types of supersonic aircraft.

Mr. Onslow

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the House would welcome the opportunity to debate the matter fully? When he is ready to introduce proposals, we shall want to be satisfied with the adequacy of all his arrangements to control and diminish aircraft noise, and shall want a full day for that.

Mr. Mason

That is a question for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. I shall take a keen personal interest in the matter, as I have since I opened the first international noise conference at Lancaster House in 1966.

Mr. Corfield

Whilst I support my hon. Friend's demand for adequate discussion, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that some of the technical modifications proposed could inflict propor- tionately much greater expense on our aircraft industry than that of the Americans and other countries?

Mr. Mason

Yes, Sir. That is something we shall have to keep in the forefront of our minds. Three major nations are involved, and we shall have to see to what extent the cost affects individual States.

Mr. Barnes

Many people living near London Airport have been greatly encouraged by the high hopes my right hon. Friend has expressed about noise certification in his booklet "Action Against Aircraft Noise." Will he be more specific and say by what year he expects, say, 50 per cent. of aircraft using London Airport to be noise-certified?

Mr. Mason

I am sorry that I cannot be more specific than I have already been. We shall have to await the international discussion at I.C.A.O.

Mr. Rankin

Does my right hon. Friend agree that we produce one of the quietest engines that has ever taken to the air, the RB 211, and that it is the type of engine we would be better using ourselves, even though we earn a lot of money by selling it to America?

Mr. Mason

The RB211 does not power present-day aircraft. Aircraft which should be covered and therefore should be quieter would be the Lockheed 10–11, the BAC3–11, the DC10 and the European Airbus.