§ Mr. Sandelsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's review of the need for further measures to insulate buildings around Heathrow and Gatwick from aircraft noise.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisFollowing consultation with the British Airports Authority (BAA) and other interested parties, the Government have decided to introduce new noise insulation grant schemes for domestic dwellings around Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. The schemes will concentrate on those areas which are currently most affected by aircraft noise and which will continue to be subject to comparatively high noise levels in the mid-1980s. In addition, they will concentrate on the areas within which there is the greatest disturbance caused by night movements likely to awaken people. The boundaries of these areas will be intermediate between those of the inner and outer areas of the former schemes and will be defined by maps, copies of which will be deposited in the Library. One of the most significant improvements in the new schemes is that people living in these new areas who did not qualify for grants under the earlier schemes will now be eligible.
The schemes will make provision for the BAA to pay the full costs of insulating 4W two living rooms and all bedrooms of dwellings within the area specified for each airport. Full details of the schemes, which are estimated to cost about £19 million, as compared with expenditure of about £4.25 million up to 30th September 1978 under the earlier arrangemnts, will be published as soon as possible.