§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in implementing his 457W Department's policy to pay injurious affection, compensation and noise insulation grants as a result of increased noise at RAF Honington; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeNine claims for injurious affection compensation have now been settled. These have all been from eligible persons residing within the boundary of the noise insulation grant scheme. I am pleased to have this opportunity to confirm that claims for compensation may also be paid to owner occupiers of dwellings and certain other properties outside the scheme boundary in line with part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973, the provisions of which my Department has agreed to follow adminitratively and which do not limit payment to the boundary of any noise insulation grant scheme. Claimants will need to show that their property has suffered depreciation in value as a direct result of the increase in noise from the deployment of Tornado aircraft to RAF Honington in 1981. In view of previous uncertainty over those who may be eligible to submit claims for compensation, the last date for receipt of claims has been extended to 31 December 1985.
Progress with noise insulation grants has been delayed because of requests by applicants to waive the requirement to fit permanent ventilation. These need careful consideration because safety aspects are involved, but I hope to announce the result shortly.