HL Deb 19 July 1982 vol 433 cc621-3

2.50 p.m.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My 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 agree that some relief from aircraft noise for the many living under the glidepath to Heathrow is long overdue and that Stansted is the only real choice for such relief; and whether they will therefore urgently develop Stansted as the third London airport.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, those living under the glide-path to Heathrow have already been afforded a measure of relief from aircraft noise by the gradual phasing out of the noisiest jets and their replacement by modern, quieter aircraft. As I am sure the noble Lord is aware, Her Majesty's Government have invited the British Airports Authority to bring forward the proposals to develop Stansted which are currently the subject of a public inquiry, and it would not be right for me to prejudge the outcome.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I am grateful for that Answer. Is the noble Lord aware that, while there has been some degree of reduction in noise, there has at the same time been an increase in the number of aircraft? Therefore the nuisance is unabated. Will he be aware that this Question is for the purpose of strengthening the Government's hand in the matter and their resolution to stand by Stansted, and not to give way to the very heavy pressure which will be placed upon them to abandon this necessary project?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, we are very grateful for the noble Lord's support in this matter. I am not entirely sure which project the noble Lord has in mind. If it is the subject of the inquiry at Stansted, the noble Lord and, I am sure, all noble Lords will be aware that this is in two halves. The first half is now nearing completion. The second half of the entire Stansted inquiry will commence, I understand, in January of next year. While the entire project of Stansted, or not, is under discussion, it would not be right for me to speculate on the outcome.

Lord Ardwick

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that those of us who live in this district are praying for the day when Stansted comes into fuller operation? Is he also aware that while most of us have learned to accommodate ourselves to the noise for most of the time, if we are ill and going through a period of anxiety, or if we sit in our gardens or walk in Kew Gardens or across Richmond Park, the noise varies from the merely disturbing to the terribly distressing?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, any aircraft noise is of course distressing and disturbing. I am sure the noble Lord will be aware, from all the debates, discussions and questions which there have been in your Lordships' House, that the Government share this concern, especially in the Heathrow area and particularly on the glide path—either landing or taking off. The Government are very much aware of this and are taking steps to try to reduce the noise level, together with aircraft movement, in so far as that is possible.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

My Lords, reverting to the noble Lord's earlier Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Jenkins of Putney, I wonder whether he could indicate now when the Government anticipate that they will be able to give their decision on the report of the public inquiry?

Lord Lyell

No, my Lords.

Lord Boothby

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he can tell us the reason for the interminable delay, which has now lasted several years, in deciding the location of a third airport for London, and whether he realises that it is now doing severe damage to the trade and commerce of this country?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I hope the noble Lord will accept that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my noble friend Lord Cockfield will take a joint decision on the provision of further airport capacity when they have considered the inspector's report on the Stansted and Heathrow inquiries.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the people of the London Borough of Ealing have for many years suffered appallingly from aircraft noise, both leaving and arriving at Heathrow, particularly in the Ealing sectors of Greenford and Northolt? Is the noble Lord further aware that although the building of the A.40 flyover has caused considerable concern, people have been helped by the Department of the Environment assisting them to install double glazing? Could not the Minister please inquire whether or not it is possible for those who suffer from aircraft noise to receive similar treatment? Finally, would it be possible for the Minister to inquire into whether the stacking of aircraft before they arrive at Heathrow could be so organised as to limit, so far as is humanly possible, the amount of noise?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, so far as the noble Lord's last question is concerned, it involves rather a technical point, and perhaps I could inquire briefly into the stacking procedure and write to him about it. So far as the A.40 flyover is concerned, I hope that we are dealing with transport in the air and not necessarily with motor-cars flying, or not, over other roads. I am afraid that I missed the noble Lord's first point.

Lord Molloy

Double glazing.

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