HC Deb 12 July 1976 vol 915 cc15-6
12. Mr. Jessel

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he proposes to contain the daily number of jet flights in and out of Heathrow; and, if so, at what level.

Mr. Clinton Davis

In the context of the consultations on the London area airports document published last November, various proposals have been made for limitations on the development of Heathrow, including restrictions on jet flights. All these proposals will be taken into account in the formulation of the Government's airports policy.

Mr. Jessel

As it was this Government, abetted and encouraged by the Liberal Party, who dropped the proposal for a coastal airport at Maplin—the main hope for the future for people living around Heathrow Airport who suffer from what the Minister has rightly described as the pestilence of aircraft noise—when will the Government face the consequences of that decision and impose a strict daily limit on the number of flights through Heathrow, which already total 600 a day, and prevent any increase in the capacity of the airport?

Mr. Davis

The question of capacity is very much part of the topics that the Government have invited everybody with an interest in this matter to discuss with us. It would be wrong for me to pre-empt that discussion. The hon. Gentleman seems to be hankering after the rightly-discarded Maplin. I find his remarks quite extraordinary in view of his party's alleged concern over public expenditure.

Mr. Tebbit

Is it a fact that the capacity at Heathrow will first become limited by the capacity of the passenger terminals unless the Government authorise the construction of new terminals? Since the Government came to office, what has the Minister done to encourage airlines to re-equip with new, quieter aircraft?

Mr. Davis

If the hon. Gentleman reads the document to which I have referred he will find comments on the adequacy of the terminals for future development and a list of the available options. It would not be helpful for me to indicate that the Government have made up their mind on these matters. Clearly, we have not. On the encouragement of quieter aircraft, we have made clear—and subordinate legislation has been introduced to deal with this matter —that older versions of the noisier aircraft can no longer be introduced, since 1st January this year. We have also sought to draw public attention to and have consultations on retrofit and two segment approach. We have had two-demonstrations, which have created a great deal of public praise for the Government's approach to the problem.