§ Mr. DevaTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of respondents in respect of each of the public consultations in relation to the current night flights regulations, in January 1993, October 1993, November 1993, March 1995 and June 1995, in relation to Heathrow airport; in each case how many respondents were(a) seeking an increase, (b) seeking a reduction and (c) supporting the night noise levels proposed in the consultation papers concerned; and if he will subdivide the totals in each category according to number of airlines, number of air transport bodies, number of hon. Members, number of local authorities, number of resident associations and environmental groups, number of members of the public and others. [39346]
§ Mr. NorrisThe total number of responses received to each of the consultations, analysed by category of respondent, is set out in the table. These do not relate only to Heathrow. The consultations concerned proposals for a regime of new restrictions on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports which included a number of discrete elements. Many of the comments in the responses related to more than one of these airports without necessarily focusing on the night noise levels at Heathrow as an issue separate from the other elements of the proposals.
It is not normal departmental practice to provide any form of written summary or statistical analysis of responses to a consultation when the responses are publicly available. All the responses to the November 1993 consultation paper, the March 1995 consultation paper and to the supplementary paper of June 1995, other than those where the author has requested confidentiality, are so available.
Responses to the January and October 1993 consultations have not been made available as the respondents were not given the opportunity to state whether they would object to their responses being copied or otherwise disclosed. An analysis of the responses to the January 1993 consultation in relation to "night noise levels" at Heathrow as requested would not seem appropriate as the consultation, and the responses, were concerned with the whole night restrictions regime, many aspects of which are interrelated—for example, the size of the noise quota is related to both the length of the night quota period and to the QC classification of aircraft. The main points raised in the responses to the January 1993 consultation and the decisions of my right hon. Friend in the light of these responses were announced on 6 July 1993, Official Report, columns 71–73. The October 1993 consultation was limited in time and extent: it was primarily focused on the proposal to specify the maximum number of movements for the winter season 1993–94 in the light of the judgment given on 29 September 1993.
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Responses received Main January 1993 consultation W 1993–94 October 19934 S 1994 Two phases of W 1994–to S 1998 November 1993 W 1995–1998 March 1995 consultation W 1995–96 to S 1998 June 1995 supplement Members of Parliament and MEPs (other than letters covering constituents views) 19 — 1 3 2 6 Airport consultative committees. 3 3 24 24 3 2 Local authorities, Parish and Town Councils, and local authority associations. 69 19 43 254 262 34 Environmental and other local groups 59 5 18 28 43 29 Aviation and acoustical consultants. 2 — 1 1 1 — Airlines 63 4 14 27 38 14 Airport and aviation bodies. 5 2 5 4 25 2 Airlines and airport users and other aviation interests. 17 5 10 13 10 7 Responses from people living around Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted 31,823 — 3149 3279 3308 3661 Responses from people living elsewhere 99 — — — — — Petitions (and signatures lodged in bulk) 42,762 — — 41,029 4421 135 1 Short consultation. 2 One from outside London area. 3 Number of letters not number of signatories. 4 Not verified. [Excludes late responses]