§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are now in a position to state when the schedule of regular flights to Moscow will be published by British European Airways.]
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, the schedule of regular flights to Moscow by British European Airways will be published as soon as possible after agreement has been reached with the Soviet Authorities about the inauguration of the service. As my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation has said on more than one occasion, we are anxious to see air services to Moscow started. However, as Aeroflot intend to use the TU-104 jet aircraft, my right honourable friend has to satisfy himself that this aircraft can be operated in such a way that the noise level during landing and take-off will not be intolerable to those who live in the vicinity of London Airport. The Comet 4 and the Boeing 707 are already subject to operating restrictions, and the Minister, wishing to satisfy himself that the TU-104 will not be noisier than these aircraft, proposed to the Soviet authorities certain conditions to which the TU-104 should be subject during an initial trial period. The Soviet authorities have now replied to these proposals and their reply is being studied.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, in thanking the noble Earl for his reply, may I ask him how long the negotiations with the Soviet authorities have been going on, and whether he can give me any indication of when these negotiations can be concluded? May I ask the noble Earl, further, whether it is only technical difficulties that are preventing the conclusion of the negotiations or whether there 376 is any truth in the allegation that has been made, that there has been influence from the United States of America which has been preventing our concluding these negotiations?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, answering the first part of the noble Lord's question, the negotiations were started in December, 1957. As to their conclusion, I ended my statement by saying that a reply has now been received from the Soviet authorities, but it has only just been received and is being studied; and until it has been properly studied we cannot conclude the negotiations.
I am very glad that the noble Lord asked whether there has been any political pressure, particularly from the United States, and I should like to state categorically that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in that allegation. It is purely a matter of the convenience of the local inhabitants of Heathrow. Her Majesty's Government have already asked the British Overseas Airways Corporation and American airlines to limit the noise from their aircraft to a certain standard, and obviously we must be consistent. There is no question of pressure from outside.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, in view of that reply, can the noble Earl say why it is that the TU-104 is apparently acceptable in all large European airports where this difficulty, apparently, has not arisen? And would he bear in mind not only the importance of flights to Moscow but the fact that from London that is the shortest route to the Far East, and that it would be very important to be able to inaugurate a service to the Far East via Siberia?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, again I am grateful to the noble Lord for asking that question. Conditions at airports at which the TU-104 at present lands are not the same as those at London Airport—they have not the same agglomeration around them. My right honourable friend feels that the living conditions of people around London Airport must be of primary importance in this matter.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, of course we all agree that this question of noise can be very troublesome where aircraft are going over a vast city like London; 377 but would it be possible for Her Majesty's Government to explore the possibility of using Gatwick as an airport for this particular aircraft?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I am afraid that is another question, but I might say, offhand, that possibly Gatwick is too small for regular use. Because of length of runway it would put too many limitations on take-off; but that is only a guess on my part.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, surely that is a most disturbing reply. Gatwick is the alternative to London Airport, and surely any craft that can get into London should be able to get into Gatwick. Is the noble Earl quite sure that the reason he has given is the only reason for nonuse of this airport by aircraft of this size?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDI think there are two different questions here. I said that, so far as I understood—and it was only my personal opinion—Gatwick was not at the moment of suitable length for a regular service of jet aircraft under present conditions. Naturally, those aircraft can get in and out—of that there is no question at all. But if the noble Lord would like an answer from Her Majesty's Government, as opposed to my own personal opinion, I would request that he put a Question down on the Order Paper.