§ 3. Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department will make a final decision as to which Southampton dwellings will be eligible for insulation against traffic noise from the M27.
§ Mr. CarmichaelAs soon as possible and in any case within the time limits laid down in the Noise Insulation Regulations 1973.
§ Mr. GouldIs my hon. Friend aware that the Nursling link for the M27 is scheduled for completion in the autumn of this year, and that therefore there is an urgent need for action if many Southampton dwellings are not to be subjected to an intolerable level of noise? Does he accept that while there may be doubt in some borderline cases there is a large category of dwellings which, on any reasonable assumption about noise levels, 471 must qualify for help? Will he take immediate action to provide that help?
§ Mr. CarmichaelThe Department seriously considers questions of noise level, but it is important that contracts should be let in reasonable numbers so that reasonable prices can be obtained. My hon. Friend says that certain areas will obviously require insulation, but when one looks at a noise map one sometimes finds that they are not quite as obvious as might have been thought. Noise is a funny thing and it has peculiar side effects. Sometimes an area that one would have imagined obviously needed insulation turns out not to need it.