asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many householders living in the inner area around London Heath row and London Gatwick airports have been allotted 100 per cent. noise insulation grants; and whether he will give the number of persons living outside that area but close to the airports who have applied for the 75 per cent. grant.

Up to 30th September 1973 the number of 100 per cent. grants approved at Heathrow was 850; at Gatwick 57. At Heathrow, 2,403 applications were made for 75 per cent. grants; at Gatwick 260. In addition 8,127 grants were paid at Heathrow before 14th September 1972 at the old rate of 60 per cent.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that 100 per cent. grant covers a wide enough area? Second, what thought has he given to asking the British Airports Authority to take on the whole of this noise insulation grant scheme, since it is the possessor of the airports?

In fact the British Airports Authority has taken on and administers the scheme in respect of Heathrow and Gatwick. There are other schemes at Manchester and Luton, which are not the subject of the Question, and they are administered by the local authorities. As regards the working of the scheme itself, we recently modified and extended its substantially. We are constantly looking at it—we shall be looking at it again in the fairly near future—and any points which hon. Members put to me will be taken into account.