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Civil Aviation Bill

I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, that local authorities deserve to play a greater part in the issue of noise and emissions from aircraft, because they affect very many people who live adjacent to airports—people who are very frightened by the various proposals in hand at the moment to expand airports. Airports cause a lot of people a lot of misery, and the Government would do well to strengthen the position of local authorities. It is unreasonable to expect local authorities to veto the propositions that the airport makes; on the other hand, they deserve to be convinced that what is proposed is necessary and that proper steps are taken now and in future to reduce noise and emissions that emanate from airports.