asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to amend the Civil Aviation Act, 1949, to restore to the citizen the right to sue airports and airlines for noise nuisance caused by aircraft in flight.

Successive Governments have declined to remove the protection provided by the Act. To remove it would put in hazard the future of a major industry of considerable importance to the economy. The right course is to make every effort, as the Government are doing, to contain and reduce aircraft noise.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the latest position regarding research into means of reducing aircraft noise by the adaptation of existing aircraft.

As I said on 13th March, 1972, so far as British engines are concerned, the Government are urgently considering a programme of work aimed at the possible development of commercial retrofit equipment.