§ Viscount Davidson rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 27th June be approved [22nd Report from the Joint Committee].
§ The noble Viscount said: My Lords, this order is intended to replace the Air Navigation (Noise Certification) Order 1987. It is the sixth of its kind. As well as carrying forward the provisions of the previous order, it introduces the terms of a European Community directive on aircraft noise which effectively rules out the addition of further so called chapter 2 aircraft to the fleets of EC member states. As in the case of the previous order, it is considered preferable to have a new comprehensive order rather than have the complexities which would result from an amended order. The noise standards section is largely unchanged and repeats that in the old order.
§ International noise certification standards for civil subsonic jet aircraft are specified in the International Civil Aviation Organisation's annex 16 to the convention on International Civil Aviation. Chapter 2 is the minimum standard and that is attained by the older types such as the BAC111 and Boeing 727. More modern types, such as the Airbus A320 and BAe 146, are certificated to the more stringent chapter 3 requirements and are appreciably quieter. The order will give force to EC Directive 89/629/EEC and will bar from November this year the addition to the airline fleets of EC member states those aircraft which do not meet chapter 3 noise standards.
§ The provisions contained in the order represent a first step towards the eventual phasing out of operations by this class of aircraft and follow the undertaking given in the 1985 airports' policy White Paper. The nonaddition proposals are supported not only by the UK, but by the majority of the member states of the European Civil Aviation Conference which are not already members of the European Community.
§ The banning of chapter 2 aircraft operations altogether will be no simple task when it is remembered that over half of the world jet fleet is comprised of chapter 2 aircraft. However, we are confident that an international agreement will be reached later this year that will allow those aircraft to be phased out over the period 1995 to 2002.
§ Regrettably, the problem of aircraft noise disturbance in the vicinity of airports will never entirely disappear. However, the provision in the order represents a further, if modest, step in the Government's ongoing campaign to alleviate the nuisance. I commend the draft order to the House.
§ Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 27th June be approved.[22nd Report from the Joint Committeer—(Viscount Davidson.)
1066§ Lord GallacherMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for explaining the purpose of the order. Those who are instructing me in the matter have told me to say very little, apart from giving the order a generous welcome and saying that we support it.
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I am most grateful.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ The Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneMy Lords, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn during pleasure until 8 o'clock.
§ Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
§ [The Sitting was suspended from 7.14 to 8 p.m.]