HC Deb 21 February 1978 vol 944 cc559-60W
Mr. Sandelson

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a further statement about the quota arrangements to be imposed under the Government's policy of reducing night disturbance at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

Mr. Clinton Davis

As I announced on 7th November 1977, movements of the noisier aircraft—generally the first generation of subsonic jets—at Heathrow and Gatwick will be phased out over the next 10 years.

The total number of permitted aircraft movements will be held constant over the next three years.

The position after 1981 will be considered when the results of research into the relationship between aircraft noise and sleep disturbance are available.

A jet aircraft will qualify for the quieter quota if the area in which it measures over 95 perceived noise decibels is less than 4 square miles on take-off and 2.5 square miles on landing.

The quotas are as follows: