§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy 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 whether they will exert strong pressure on the United States Government and the Port Authority of New York to grant Concorde landing rights in New York forthwith, in view of the further postponement of this decision by the Port Authority to February 1977, when the new Administration will be in office.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, our concern at postponement of the decision has been expressed to the United States Government and to the New York authorities. We are also taking steps to publicise the economic benefit to New York of air services there by Concorde.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that very satisfactory Answer. Does he not agree that should the decision go against Concorde in February there will then be an even longer delay while an appeal is heard, which may well prove disastrous to the whole project?
Lord ORAMOf course, my Lords, we are hoping for a favourable decision, and we hope to avoid the situation to which the noble Earl refers.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the extension of the existing Washington service through to Fort Worth has yet been agreed with the American authorities?
§ Lord WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, in view of the report in the Press recently that the noise level of Concorde had been appreciably reduced, can my noble friend say what are the results obtained at Washington on the noise level?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I understand that noise from Concorde measured at Washington has been entirely within the levels predicted by the Coleman decision.