§ 2.38 p.m.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will devise some means to provide for the compensation of persons whose property is injuriously affected by the building of aerodromes for use by heavy jet-propelled machines, for loss of amenities, depreciation in the value of their property so affected, and other like injury.]
891§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR (LORD DE L'ISLE AND DUDLEY)My Lords, I fully appreciate the difficulties of the householders whom the noble Lord has in mind: they have my fullest sympathy. The principles by which the State is bound in this respect do not, I fear, permit compensation of the kind proposed by the noble Lord. I am sure the noble Lord will appreciate that, however much the general idea of compensation may appeal to him, the practical reasons which have guided the policy of this and of previous Governments in this respect are beyond dispute. The implications of such a scheme would be limitless. I can only add that it is the constant aim of the Royal Air Force, and of the other Departments concerned with the operation of jet aircraft, to minimise their unpleasant effect on the public as a whole.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, I thank my noble and gallant friend for the very comprehensive reply he has made to my Question. I am gratified to hear that when the situation becomes quite intolerable in certain places the matter will be further considered.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, before we leave this question, may I ask the noble and gallant Lord whether he considers his reply will cover a case such as the following, which is within my knowledge? A market gardener, who has a great deal of glass on which his living depends, had the whole of it smashed by the starting up of one jet aeroplane. I should like to ask whether that kind of injury is to be met with what I might almost call perfunctory regret?
§ LORD DE L'ISLE AND DUDLEYMy Lords, in reply to the supplementary question addressed to me by the noble Lord, Lord Teviot, I should not like the House to believe that I can reconsider the matter of principle which I have enunciated. In reply to the question asked by 892 the noble Lord, Lord Saltoun, naturally if he will put down a Question on the Order Paper, or write to me privately, I will certainly consider it and give him a reply.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, before leaving this Question, may I ask the noble and gallant Lord, having regard to the serious menace to the public of the increase in the noise of jet aircraft, and in view of the experiments which I know the noble Lord's Department and other Departments are carrying out on the question of noise, by building walls, and so on, whether the noble Lord will consider publishing in a few months' time, in the form of a memorandum or White Paper or in some other form, the results of those experiments? I am sure that such a progress report would be of wide public interest.
§ LORD DE L'ISLE AND DUDLEYMy Lords, it may be that the noble Lord has in mind certain experiments which are going on at London Airport in relation to the Comet aircraft. This is not directly a matter within the ambit of my responsibilities, but I will certainly make inquiries. I can give no assurance as to whether it will be possible for anything to be published, but I will bring the remarks of the noble Lord to the attention of my right honourable friend the Minister of Civil Aviation, and possibly to the Minister of Supply, to see whether anything can be done. I must emphasise, however, that I am afraid that, much as we should like to obviate all this nuisance, it is a concomitant of the production of the jet engine.