§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the pace of administration in that section of the Eastern Road construction unit which has been dealing with noise insulation claims by property holders living near the Bury St. Edmunds bypass.
§ Mr. MarksAs my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry—the hon. Member for Glasgow, Kelvingrove (Mr. Carmichael)—said in an earlier reply to the hon. Member, it is regretted that progress has not been better. Difficulties have been encountered in costing the insulation work and some properties have presented ventilation problems. Detailed offers of insulation, or a grant in lieu, should be made within the next three weeks. On receipt of responses the work will go ahead as quickly as possible on those dwellings for which' the offer of insulation is accepted.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the delays in his Department's handling of claims for noise insulation and compensation for disturbance and loss of business by residents of Bury St. Edmunds whose lives have been adversely affected by the A45 bypass.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the failure of his Department over the past two years to make estimates of the cost of insulating homes on Eastgate Street and Thingoe Hill against noise from the Bury St. Edmunds bypass, he will now employ private professional and business firms to do the job more quickly and at less expense.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct officials to meet the local councillors representing the St. Edmundsbury District Council, and the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds at the homes of those residents of Eastgate 314W Street and Thingoe Hill who are adversely affected by the A45 bypass with a view to resolving the difficulties that for two years have prevented his Department from insulating these homes against noise.
§ Mr. MarksI see no need for such a meeting, as the Department has now approved the cost estimates and will authorise its agent this week to make offers of insulation to those affected.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct his Department now to fulfil the statutory obligation laid upon it by Parliament, but undischarged for nearly two years, to insulate from excessive noise those residents of Eastgate Street and Thingoe Hill in Bury St. Edmunds whose homes have been adversely affected by the A45 bypass.