HL Deb 20 February 1962 vol 237 cc651-3

2.40 p.m.

LORD BLACKFORD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

[To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will construct a helicopter terminal in London, and, if so, where and when; but, if not, whether they will remove the restrictions against development under which certain nominated areas are suffering.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD MILLS)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Aviation hopes shortly to be able to make a statement on the recommendations of the Committee which he appointed to study the development of a heliport in London and which selected three possible sites. He has arranged to meet a deputation from the London County Council and Metropolitan boroughs on March 2, at which the views of those authorities on the Report will be presented to him. The noble Lord will not expect me to anticipate the outcome of that meeting. My right honourable friend greatly regrets that certain intended developments are being held up meantime, and will endeavour to remove the uncertainties affecting these developments at the earliest possible moment.

LORD BLACKFORD

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that rather full reply, I must declare my interest in this matter because I am deputy chairman of a company which owns one of the sites so restricted. I should like to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the widespread opposition there is to the establishment of a helicopter port in the heart of the City of London, owing to the intolerable noise which it is thought would result; and whether at the earliest possible moment Her Majesty's Government will relieve that particular site which adjoins Cannon Street Station from the restriction upon its development from which it has suffered for so many years.

LORD MILLS

My Lords, in reply to the noble Lord, Her Majesty's Govern- ment are well aware of the points made by the opposition to that particular site and to the other sites which were recommended in the Report. Her Majesty's Government will have due regard to the representations which have been made and which will be made.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, can the noble Lord reassure the House that use of the sites which have been selected will not in any way interfere with the uninterrupted sleep of the citizens of London?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, in answer to the noble Lady, that is of course one of the points to which Her Majesty's Government will pay particular attention. The subject of noise is of importance to us all and is being very carefully studied.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the noise of the Fairey Rotodyne, to take one example, on taking off and landing, is double what the Ministry's own technical advisers accept as intolerable; and that for a distance of two miles, flying below 1,000 feet, it will be intolerable to people below its path? Why on earth should the citizens of London be subjected to such a nuisance? Can Her Majesty's Government conceivably be of the opinion that one man in a hurry is entitled to annoy 100,000 people in order to get from A to B?

LORD MILLS

In answer to the noble Lord, Her Majesty's Government, and in particular my right honourable friend the Minister of Aviation, are well aware of all the circumstances surrounding this issue, of which noise is a very important one. I should have thought that in considering this on earth, it might be that we must consider it in heaven.

VISCOUNT MERSEY

My Lords, could the noble Lord give an assurance to the House that, pending the meeting between the Minister and the London County Council and other interested parties, no negotiations are taking place, or have taken place, with any foreign airline for operating these heliports in London?

LORD MILLS

I think I have no difficulty in answering that question. My right honourable friend the Minister of Aviation has come to no conclusions on the matter and will come to no conclusions until he has had an opportunity of considering all the issues raised by the local authorities and by other people interested in this problem.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, if the Government are so well aware of all the factors, could they not now make up their minds on this matter? And might they not in fact take the inevitable step which must be taken and which is to provide a proper rail link for quick transport to suitable airports outside London?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, no; it is the duty of the Government to consider all the points of view which can be put to them, and in this connection the London County Council and other authorities have asked for a meeting with the Minister, which is to take place within the next few days.

Viscount ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, in these circumstances, because of the great interest in the matter, may I ask that as soon as that meeting has taken place the Government will lay a White Paper?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, I should like to consult my right honourable friend on that, but I do not think that that is a bad idea.