§ 12. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make an official visit to the defence establishment at Inchterf.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownMy right hon. Friend has no plans for such a visit at present.
§ Mr. CanavanIf the Minister cannot visit Inchterf personally, will he send one of his senior officials to investigate complaints from local people about the excessive noise caused by the firing of ammunition there? If nothing can be done to reduce the noise level at source, will the Government consider providing special sound insulation in the houses? Is he aware that people complain to me that it is like living next to a battlefield?
§ Mr. BrownMy right hon. Friend and I have the greatest sympathy for the people who suffer from the noise of this establishment. But I must remind my hon. Friend that the establishment, which was built before the First World War was there long before any of the existing housing estates. If my hon. Friend has any details about property which has suffered damage as a result of the noise, I should be glad if he would forward them to me. I shall then have the matter examined by the claims division of the Ministry.
Under the provisions of the 1972 White Paper on development and compensation, I am entitled to make grants, but only when the defence installations concerned have been set up or extended since 1969 to allow greater use. That does not apply in this case.
§ Mrs. BainSince I am one of the local residents subject to the noise at Inchterf, could the Minister say when we can expect a report from the Property Services Agency which is looking into the alleviation of noise at source? What level of expenditure does the Minister envisage for the sound-proofing of houses, and how does it compare with the profits made at Inchterf?
§ Mr. BrownWe expect that the report will be available in August. I cannot say what the results will be. Until we get the recommendations, I cannot comment on what provision will be made.