§ Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales on noise insulation schemes in each of the past three years for which figures are available; and what estimates he has made of expenditure on such schemes in each of the next three years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have been asked to reply.
6WSo far as insulation against road traffic noise is concerned, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape) on 16 May 1980.—[Vol. 984, c. 698–99.] As I explained in that reply, information about local authority expenditure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Some local authorities which are also airport authorities operate schemes for insulation against aircraft noise. I understand that information on their expenditure on these schemes is not readily available.