Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the locations of complaints about noise from low-flying aircraft are mapped by his Department in order to monitor the distribution of noise disturbance.
§ Mr. FreemanThe locations of inquiries and complaints about low-flying aircraft are mapped to show their distribution and indicate particular problem areas. Not all representations are primarily concerned with aircraft noise, and the map does not purport to indicate the distribution of aircraft noise disturbance.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all research work currently being carried out(a) by his Department and (b) by external agencies under contract to his Department investigating the health effects of aircraft noise on human beings and animals.
§ Mr. SainsburyNo specific research work on the health effects of external aircraft noise is currently being carried out by MOD, either internally or under outside contracts, but we do, of course, monitor developments in this field. The MOD contributed to early work on the human response to noise measurements units which are embodied in the current aircraft noise legislation.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the final report of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's pilot study "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society" will be published.
§ Mr. FreemanWork on the pilot study is continuing and the final report is unlikely to be completed before the end of 1989. The timing of its subsequent publication is a matter for NATO.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what additional measures have been introduced in the United Kingdom, following the recommendation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's interim report "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society," that efforts to inform the public of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's reasons for low flying and the steps taken to mitigate the effects of aircraft noise, should be expanded;
(2) what contribution is being made by his Department to the development by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation committee on the challenges of modern society, of a public information package on the noise impact of aircraft operations.
§ Mr. FreemanFollowing publication of the North Atlantic Organisation (NATO) committee on the 771W challenges of modern society's interim report, it was decided that expansion of the reasons for low flying and the steps taken to mitigate the effects of aircraft noise should take the form of a NATO public information package.
The development of this package is being led by the NATO directorate of information. The Ministry of Defence has made available examples of the material in use in the United Kingdom and has responded to a questionnaire circulated by the director of information. The Department is participating fully in the programme of work through its representation on the committee established under the chairmanship of the dirctor of information. Meanwhile, the Department continues to recognise the importance of providing adequate infomation to the public about low flying, the need for it, and the steps taken to minimise consequent disturbance. Our efforts include responding to complaints and inquiries, distributing a pamphlet and making available a video on low flying, briefing journalists and flying them in front-line aircraft, and arranging presentations to the public by both the RAF presentation team and the low flying presentation team.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by his Department to implement the recommendation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's pilot study "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society" that multinational research into the long-term effects of aircraft noise on humans, animals and structures should be vigorously pursued.
§ Mr. FreemanWhen I wrote to the hon. Member on 31 July 1987 I explained that the analysis of international data on the effects of aircraft noise on humans, animals and structures with a view to working towards the development of agreed technical assessment criteria was one of the tasks to be addressed further by the pilot study. This is continuing. In parallel, the Ministry of Defence continues to participate in international symposia and is also in discussion with academic institutions.