HC Deb 09 December 1992 vol 215 cc719-20W
Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans there are to extend the helicopter noise insulation grant scheme to include dwellings which are on regular helicopter flight paths;

(2) what progress has been made on the review of the helicopter noise insulation grant scheme; and when he intends to reform the scheme.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

A study is underway to establish whether the boundary of the existing noise scheme at Bessbrook should be extended in some areas to take into account the intensity of noise created by helicopters on approach and departure routes. The study is being conducted in close consultation with Newry and Mourne district council and we would expect the results to be available around mid-1993. If these show that additional properties are subject to the qualifying noise levels for sound insulation grant we will consider extending entitlement to those areas and, if appropriate, review the implications for other helicopter landing sites in Northern Ireland. We have no plans to introduce schemes other than in the vicinity of helicopter landing sites.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to including individual dwellings in the vicinity of look-out posts and occasional helicopter landing sites within the helicopter noise insulation grant scheme.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

At look out posts and occasional helicopter landing sites the average 70dB(A) noise contour upon which our existing scheme is based would not be triggered from the small number of flights involved. It is not therefore proposed to include these sites in our scheme.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring of helicopter noise and flight frequencies has been carried out, and at what locations, as part of the review of the helicopter noise insulation grant scheme.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

A pilot noise survey including a daily check of flight movements at Bessbrook, which we believe is the worst affected area, has already commenced and is continuing. Our efforts will be concentrated there until data from this task and a subsequent full noise survey have been collected and analysed.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the current review of the helicopter noise insulation grant scheme was initiated.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

April 1991.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the high incidence of night-time helicopter flights in parts of Northern Ireland during the review of the helicopter noise insulation grant scheme.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is because of our concern about the number of night-time helicopter flights in certain parts of Northern Ireland that this aspect forms an important part of our review.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to introducing helicopter noise insulation schemes at landing sites excluded from the last such grant scheme.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

We will consider the inclusion of other helicopter landing sites in Northern Ireland when the results of the noise survey at Bessbrook have been evaluated and the review of our night-time policy is complete.