§ 41. Mr. Brooksasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the minimum height requirements for aircraft proceeding over the Borough of Bebington along the flight-path approaches to Speke Airport; on how many occasions in the past six months these requirements have not been fulfilled; and what steps he will take to minimise the risk to householders, factories, power generating plant and oil storage tanks within the borough.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsNo specific minimum heights are required in the case of aircraft flying over Bebington in the course of landing or practising approaches to landing at Speke airport in accordance with normal aviation practice; no unusual risk exists in the borough in so far as such operations are concerned and it is not proposed to introduce any special restrictions.
§ Mr. BrooksDoes not my right hon. Friend recognise that in this area some extremely volatile petro-chemical products are stored, there is a vast amount of industry and the population are very apprehensive about the possibility of accidents? Is he also aware that in the last six months there has been a considerable increase in the number of inquiries and complaints that have been received, including one to the effect that an aircraft narrowly missed the chimney of a local power station?
§ Mr. RobertsI am interested in what my hon. Friend says about complaints and inquiries. These must have been local. I have not received at the Board of Trade any complaints or representations from the area. This does not mean of course that there are not keen apprehensions among the people, and my hon. Friend might wish later to have a word with me about this.