§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what expenditure the Ministry of Technology has committed to sponsoring research and development in the field of aircraft noise.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY (LORD DELACOURT-SMITH)My Lords, there has been a rapid growth in this work over the last few years, rising from about £250,000 in 1965–66 to a current level of about £1½ million annually. In value terms, about one fifth of the work is carried out in Ministry Establishments, notably the National Gas Turbine Establishment at Pyestock. The remainder is carried out under contract by industry and the universities. The aircraft industry is also spending about £100,000 of its own money annually.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for his Answer. Can he give us a little more information on precisely what research work is being carried out by the Ministry of Technology, aimed at reducing aircraft noise?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHYes, my Lords. The Ministry's work covers both airframe and engine noise, the investigation of the effects on people and buildings, the establishment of operational procedures to reduce noise—this is in collaboration with the Board of Trade—sonic bang work and basic research. We have established with industry advanced facilities for the study of noise problems, and further facilities are under consideration. The first major fruits of this work will be seen in the new technology engines, of which the RB.211 is the best known.
§ LORD MOYNEMy Lords, does the noble Lord not consider that aircraft flying low enough over London to interfere with children's kites, as reported in the Press, must be creating a nuisance of noise?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, I should think that, if this is indeed happening, they are creating a nuisance to the people and to the kites.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, could the noble Lord say a little more about the success the establishments inquiring into this matter have had? He told us that the RB.211 is going to be quieter as a result of it. But what about all the other noise that those of us who live near airports have to put up with from aircraft? At the moment the noise is more noticeable than the success.
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, the figures and facts that I gave related to research which is now being done and which, as I said, has been increasing over the last few years. Aircraft with the new, quiet engines will be in service in increasing numbers in the next few years. But the effect at any one airport of course will depend upon the patterns of the utilisation of aircraft at that locality.
§ LORD IRONSIDEMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the Advisory Council on Noise are considering any of these questions of aircraft noise?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHNot without notice, my Lords.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, can my noble friend tell us whether any of this research will be applicable to supersonic aircraft, and whether there is any hope that, as a result of this research, the noise of supersonic aircraft may be reduced?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHYes, my Lords. We have a continuing programme of research into the likely effects of sonic booms and we have access to the results of work which has been dons on this subject on the Continent and in the United States. We shall be taking advantage of the Concorde test flights to add to our knowledge in this field. In addition to the work that is being undertaken at Farnborough, we have placed 114 a number of contracts with the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton, and at other universities, for work on particular aspects of the sonic boom.
§ LORD BROUGHAM AND VAUXMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether there have been any complaints regarding the Concorde flights at the moment down the West coast of England?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHNo, my Lords. The use of the full test route down the West coast has not yet begun.