11.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement concerning the future control of aircraft noise around Heathrow Airport.
My right hon. Friend will use his powers to continue the range of noise abatement measures now in operation, and will seek to strengthen them whenever practicable in consultation with those concerned.
When the Minister decides on the Mole Valley flight path, following his consultation meeting last week, will he remember that he introduced the present flight path two and a half years ago as a 12-month experiment? Does he agree that it would be most unfair to penalise the people under the present route on the ground of route stability merely because they happen to be the last in line?
I cannot fail to remember the point because the hon. Gentleman has been at me incessantly for weeks on end, and in particular at the meeting on 5th December. I have given him the assurances for which he has asked, but I must look at the matter on the basis of finding a solution which adversely affects the fewest number of people, and that is not an easy solution to find.