§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to paragraph 4.217 of the White Paper on Transport, when measures will be put in place to mitigate noise pollution from airports; and who will bear the cost of these measures. [54116]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMeasures are already in place to mitigate noise pollution from airports. At Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted certain such measures are prescribed by the Secretary of State under s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982; elsewhere, by airports either independently or by agreement with local authorities through the planning system. The costs of compliance are normally borne by the aviation industry, consistent with632W the 'polluter pays' principle. This principle will be integral to the airports policy, which we have undertaken in the White Paper to develop.