HL Deb 24 October 2000 vol 618 cc25-6WA
Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar

Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any study has been undertaken of air pollution at Heathrow Airport; and what breakdown has been identified between pollution from aircraft and pollution from cars. [HL4186]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

Such studies have been undertaken for over 25 years. BAA Heathrow publishes details of air quality at Heathrow annually. A number of local authorities in the vicinity of Heathrow have also studied emission in and around Heathrow Airport as part of their reviews and assessments of local air quality under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995.

The most recently published study that identified pollution from aircraft and cars separately was in BAA's evidence to the Heathrow Terminal Five planning inquiry in 1996. This showed that aircraft were the main source of oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide within the airport boundary; but that outside the airport, the main source of both was road traffic. Present and projected levels of air quality around Heathrow will also be examined as part of the South East and East Regional Air Service Study.