Written question asked by Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 November 2004. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 November 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to publish (a) a strategic noise map for Heathrow, (b) an action plan to manage noise issues around Heathrow and (c) a public consultation on plans to manage noise levels at Heathrow. - Inc ref to 'Future of Air Transport in the UK - South East' and 'The Future of Air Transport' White Paper (Cm 6046).

Answer: Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to publish (a) a strategic noise map for Heathrow, (b) an action plan to manage noise issues around Heathrow and (c) a public consultation on plans to manage noise levels at Heathrow. [195204] Alun Michael: Strategic noise maps and action plans for Heathrow and other specified airports will be produced as part of the requirements of Directive 2002/ 49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise (the Environmental Noise Directive). There will be public consultation on the action plans as this is also a key requirement of the Environmental Noise Directive. Details of proposed options to transpose the Directive will be put out to public consultation in due course. Noise from aircraft using Heathrow is regulated by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, under s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. The DfT's Stage 1 consultation on night restrictions from 30 October 2005 closed on 29 October and the second stage of this consultation process will be undertaken in due course. Daytime noise at Heathrow was considered in last year's consultation on the "Future of Air Transport in the UK-- South East" and "The Future of Air Transport" White Paper (Cm 6046) set out (paras 11.52-53) the Government's view that all practicable steps should be taken to prevent any deterioration in the noise climate there.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 195204; 426 c581W
Session: 2003-04
EC documents: Dir2000/49/EC
Subjects: Environment protection Heathrow Airport Publications Maps Pollution control Public participation Monitoring Measurement Noise
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk