§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade if, since September 1980, he has been advised by either Air France or British Airways, in their Concorde operations of any factors that have increased the levels of noise emission and shock waves near land to a point equal to, or in excess of, approved levels; what those levels are; and how they are monitored.
§ Mr. EyreI have not been advised by British Airways or Air France of any factors affecting Concorde operations that would increase levels of emission of noise or shock waves. There are no approved levels of such emissions and they are not formally monitored, but regular reports are received from observers in South West England on the effects of Concorde operations.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade if, since September 1980, his Department has been advised 10W by either Air France or British Airways of any changed route characteristics in the approach to South West England involving height, deceleration point, or the continuation of supersonic flight to a point nearer the Isles of Scilly.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade if his Department will monitor the sonic boom phenomenon currently affecting the South West of England, to see if Concorde routes can be further amended to reduce grounds for public concern and complaint.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many complaints have reached his Department since September 1980 regarding the presence of Concorde over the South West of England; and if he will give the numbers of complaints over the comparable periods of the winters of 1979–80, 1978–79 and 1977–78.
§ Mr. EyreAlthough Concorde does not overfly the South West of England supersonically that part of the country is affected by secondary sonic booms resulting from the aircraft's supersonic flight when approaching the United Kingdom. Since September 1980 there have been 118 complaints from South West England about these booms; the numbers of complaints in the comparable periods of 1979–80, 1978–79 and 1977–78 were 62, 246 and 293 respectively.