§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the level of night-time noise around Heathrow Airport in connection with attempts to meet the night-time noise exposure levels under the EU Fifth Environmental Action Programme by 2000. [95248]
§ Mr. MullinThe Fifth Environmental Action Programme does not require such an assessment to be made.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the long-term implications for noise from air traffic around Heathrow Airport and under its flight paths of the adoption of an EU noise abatement programme which has as its objective ensuring that no person should be exposed to levels of noise which endanger health and quality of life; [95247]
(2) what assessment he has made of the long-term implications of the adoption of the EU noise abatement programme with regard to the operations and competitiveness of (a) Heathrow and (b) other UK airports. [95246]
§ Mr. MullinThe European Commission has stated its intention to make a proposal for a Directive on environmental noise. However, this is not expected until late next year and the UK Government will treat the proposals on their merits as they emerge.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what level of noise from air traffic he has assessed to be excessive around Heathrow Airport and under its flight paths between 2300 and 0700 hours in the past year; [95460]
(2) how many people are exposed to excessive noise from air traffic around Heathrow and under its flight paths between 2300 and 0700; and what were the number for each year since 1993; [95461]
(3) what steps have been taken to measure the levels of noise experienced at night between 1 and 2 metres above ground level in residential areas (a) around Heathrow Airport and (b) under flight paths to Heathrow. [95468]
§ Mr. MullinFor many years, one of the objectives of the night restrictions has been to protect local communities around Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports from excessive aircraft noise levels at night. It has been the view of successive Governments that policy on night noise should be firmly based on research into the relationship between aircraft noise and interference with sleep and that, in order to preserve the balance between794W different interests, this should continue to be the basis for decisions. The "Night Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted: Second Stage Consultation", published on 17 November 1998, included a summary of research. Copies were placed in the Library.
My Department has for many years published daytime (7.00 am—11.00 pm) aircraft noise contours for the area around Heathrow. They show a substantial improvement in the daytime noise climate over the past two decades.
The Department does not publish night-time noise contours. A 1998 study found that there is not enough research evidence to underpin scientifically robust night contours relating noise to annoyance. Its publication was announced on 27 February 1998, Official Report, columns 403–04. However, a comparison of the seasonal totals of the 'quota count' (QC) ratings of aircraft counted against the noise quotas, indicates that there has been an improvement in the night noise climate around Heathrow, between 11.30 pm and 6.00 am, since the introduction of the present night restrictions regime in 1993. Information on this was also given in the "Night Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted: Second Stage Consultation".