§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what recent representations he has received on night flights at East Midlands Airport; and if he will make a statement; [16082]
(2) for what reason he has not extended environmental powers under the Civil Aviation Act 1982 to East Midlands Airport. [16083]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have recently received representations from or on behalf of: my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor); People Against Intrusive Noise (PAIN); East Midlands Airport Ltd.; the Association of International Courier and Express Services (AICES); and North West Leicestershire district council. The district council and others have requested that the Secretary of State designate the airport under s.80 for the purposes of s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, under which he could impose certain operational noise controls (including night restrictions).
290WThe Government's preference is for appropriate noise controls to be discussed and agreed locally, in consultation with representatives of local people and of airport users; but requests to designate are considered on their merits. The airport, the district council and other interested parties are, at my invitation, currently engaged in discussions on this issue. Following these discussions, the Secretary of State will decide whether to designate the airport for the purposes of s.78 of the 1982 Act.