§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend, as the last Government did, that new aircraft shall be only half as noisy as existing aircraft of the same size.]
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, under the terms of the Air Navigation (Noise Certification) Order 1970, which was approved by this House on May 11, new types of subsonic jet aircraft operating in the United Kingdom will, as from January 1, 1971, be required to comply with the noise standards specified in the Order. These standards will ensure that the new aircraft are approximately half as noisy as existing aircraft of the same size.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, I beg leave 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 are examining, as the last Government were, the possibility of requiring that existing aircraft be fitted with quieter engines.]
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, the Government are continuing examination of the possibility of quietening existing types of aircraft. To this end it is participating in the work of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Committee on Aircraft Noise, which is carrying out an urgent study of the problem in the hope of arriving at an agreed international solution.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the Government have ever considered, or will consider, the possibility of ruling out internal air routes to certain English towns such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, in the interests of minimising noise in the air and economising space on the ground?
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, I have no doubt that the suggestion of the noble Baroness will be looked at.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, when will the examination referred to by the noble Lord in his original Answer be completed? Will it be published, and will it cover the possibility of retro-fitting with quieter engines of a new type, as well as other measures for quietening existing aircraft?
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, this is an examination by an international body, so the question of what and how much is published will of course have to be solved internationally. I am afraid that I cannot answer the noble Lord's second question, but no doubt this will be looked into among other matters.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, in his original Answer the noble Lord said that the Government were examining this matter and, to this end, were taking part in the discussions with the international body. Is the noble Lord saying that there is only one examination, and that international; or that, on the other hand, there are two, one national and one international?
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government will be looking into the matter from their own point of view, because they will be taking part in the international discussions. Therefore, Her Majesty's Government will be considering all the aspects before those discussions take place.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, if the Government are themselves looking into this matter, as the noble Lord indicated, surely it will be possible for them to publish a report, with recommendations.
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords. I do not think it would be right for Her Majesty's Government to publish a report before the international body has come to any conclusions.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, are Her Majesty's Government as uncertain about the procedure as the noble Lord is about the answer?