Mr. Jessellasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has completed his review of night flight restrictions at Heathrow and Gatwick; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make a statement on night flying quotas in the south-east; what opportunity he will provide for consultation; and when he hopes to announce new night flying quotas to replace those which end in spring 1988.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Government's policies for reducing the noise nuisance from aircraft using Heathrow and Gatwick have effectively controlled disturbance at night and have brought about an improvement in the night noise climate. We have, amongst other measures, carefully restricted both the numbers and types of aircraft allowed to fly at night.
I have recently reviewed these restrictions in the light of the conclusions of research studis and the comments of people and representative bodies consulted last year. My 902W objective is to continue to improve the night noise climate around the airports while avoiding unnecessary restrictions on the airline industry.
At Heathrow, I propose that the number of night flights should be held to roughly its present level. This represents a reduction on the present permitted number of flights as announced in 1981. The demand is increasing, but I am not convinced that it can be satisfied without adding to the levels of night disturbance near the airport, especially in the early morning. My proposals will ensure that as airlines replace their older aircraft with modern, quieter types, the level of disturbance at night will gradually improve. In addition, I propose to ban take-offs by noisier aircraft during the small hours of the morning (0030–0500).
At Gatwick one option would be to freeze the night quota at its present level. But the different mix of aircraft at Gatwick and the high proportion of charter operations there gives us an opportunity, which does not exist at Heathrow, to make a more positive improvement to the night noise climate. By encouraging airlines to replace their older, noisier aircraft with modern, quieter ones we would achieve a quicker reduction in disturbance by both night and day. And the airlines and their passengers would benefit from the flexibility which comes from being able to plan more movements at night.
Thus, my preferred option at Gatwick would be, over the next five years:
- to phase out half the night flights now being made by older aircraft, and
- to increase gradually the number of flights by modern, quieter aircraft.
Even so, at the end of the five-year period there would on average be no more than four more flights a night than there are now.
I am today publishing the conclusions of the review and my proposals for future night restrictions. Consultation papers for Heathrow and Gatwick will be sent to hon. Members whose constituencies are affected, and to environmental groups, local authorities near the airports, and representative bodies of the aviation industry. I have also placed copies in the Library. I have asked for comments by 23 December. I shall take carefully into account all comments in reaching final decisions. I expect to be able to announce those in early February, to take effect from 1 April 1988.