§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for changing the night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. [95233]
§ Mr. MullinThe Government announced new night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports on 10 June 1999,Official Report, columns 378–80, which will last for five years, from 31 October 1999 until the end of the 2004 summer season. This followed a two-stage consultation between February 1998 and February 1999. The 10 June announcement included notification of a review of the QC system before the 2002 summer season. It also recognised that it may be necessary to review the Stansted night restrictions before 2004 if the current strong growth in traffic there were to continue. We expect to announce shortly the decision on Part 2 of the second-stage consultation on options for changes to the preferential use of Heathrow's runways at night.