---

Civil Aviation Bill

I want to refer once again to the position of the local community. I agree entirely with my noble friend that to involve local community members in matters of security which are highly relevant and germane to issues which properly ought to be the concern of the police and the airport authority is not possible. On the other hand, there has to be a way of ensuring that the local community is properly informed about these matters. That does not mean that it should form part of the decision-making process on the nature of an emergency, but how does my noble friend suggest it should be kept properly informed about issues which may have a direct effect? If an aircraft were to be sabotaged and crash into local houses, the local community would be directly involved. There must be a way of ensuring that it has a role to play, otherwise we will find ourselves in the position where members of the local community do not care about the issue because they are not well informed, even though it is vital. How is the community to be involved? My noble friend says that the local community has no role to play. I cannot accept that entirely. I understand that what is being argued is that in a highly volatile situation of direct concern to the police and the operators of the airport, no one else should be involved, but there must be a way of ensuring that local communities are better informed than is the case at present.