§ Mr. HigginsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what aircraft passed over central London at 5.25 am on Sunday 17 January en route for Heathrow; at what height it was flying; what was the maximum height at which it could have flown while still landing at Heathrow safely; and if he will, following his review of aircraft noise, ban such flights in future.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe aircraft was a Gulf Air Tristar.
I shall draw the request for height information to the attention of the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority and I shall ask him to write to my right hon. Friend.
We are still considering the responses to the proposals for future night restrictions at Heathrow which my noble Friend has discussed with the right hon. Member. Our consultation document made it clear that we do not propose to ban flights arriving at Heathrow at this hour, but we shall continue to restrict the total numbers of night movements.