§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has now completed the review of noise compensation policy; and if he will make a statement about the implications of the review generally and in the vicinity of RAF Leuchars particularly.
§ Mr. FreemanThe review of the Ministry's policy for providing sound insulation grants and compensation for noise in the vicinity of military airfields is complete. Certain changes have been approved bringing my Department's policy broadly in line with that applying to major civil airports. These changes were announced in an answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 14 November 1985 at columns260–1.
The most significant change as far as RAF Leuchars is concerned is the reduction of the qualifying level for sound insulation grants. I shall be announcing an extension to the existing noise compensation scheme at Leuchars shortly.