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Civil Aviation Bill

I, too, welcome the Under-Secretaries to their new responsibilities. I have previously worked with them both in different roles. I am sure that our working together will be as fruitful in this role as it has been in the past. Having said that, I am afraid that I do not have much positive to say about the Government’s view on noise and emissions. They have talked a tough game, but their proposals in the Bill are timid, to say the least. The amendments made in the other place would go a long way towards putting spine into these measures, and they are exceptionally to be welcomed. I regret the fact that the Government are asking this House to disagree to them. The mechanism of compulsion, for which the amendment provides, appears to be the only means whereby we can hope to achieve the sort of consistency that will be necessary to attain the meaningful controls that are needed on noise.