HC Deb 10 May 1971 vol 817 cc14-5
14. Mr. Worsley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will arrange for the two main runways at London Airport (Heathrow) to be used on alternate dates for take-off and landing, and for this procedure to be publicised in order that the public may have some relief from noise.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Whenever possible, landings are already equalised between the two main runways. I shall consider how far landings might be alternated between the runways, though any such arrangement would be liable to frequent interruption by unpredictable contingencies.

Mr. Worsley

I thank my hon. Friend for going as far as he has, but may I press him further on this matter, since it would be of great help to people in London if they could know when there would be some relief from this intolerable noise?

Mr. Grant

I appreciate that, and it is one of the reasons why I said that we shall consider the matter further. I should point out that it would make little difference at distances greater than about seven miles from the airport.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

I have referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner a case suggesting that the hon. Gentleman's Department is not doing all it could in this matter. If the Parliamentary Commissioner makes recommendations to his Departments that it should alter its procedures so as to give some relief from noise, will the hon. Gentleman take that very seriously?

Mr. Grant

We had better wait to see what the Parliamentary Commissioner says.