§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish details of the terms of reference, the research methods to be employed, the estimated cost and expected duration of the project financed by the Department into the effects of aircraft noise upon health to be carried out by the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe study is being carried out by the Institute of Psychiatry, London, on the effects of aircraft noise on the health of communities near airports. It was commenced in October 1973 and may take up to five years to complete at a total cost of£200,000 at 1973 prices. The institute is responsible for the design of the research and the methods to be used in carrying it out, and I am not in a position to provide details on these matters in advance of its report.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will advise the Medical Research Council to receive evidence from interested members of the public in the course of its research into the effects of aircraft noise upon health.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe Medical Research Council considered the problem of this research in considerable depth before it decided to ask the Institute of Psychiatry to undertake it. That body must now be left free to carry it out in the manner which it considers most likely to enable valid conclusions to be drawn, and it would he improper for me to give it advice on this.