§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans he has to assess the environmental disbenefits of night flights; [8022]
876W
- (2)what plans he has to assess the contribution that night flights make to the (a) national and (b) London economy; [8021]
- (3) what plans he has to implement the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on night flights; and if he will make a statement. [8020]
§ Mr. TrendTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Government will issue their response to the ruling of the European Court on Human Rights on the future of night flights at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement. [7535]
§ Mr. JamiesonWe will study the judgment carefully before deciding what action may be necessary. The judgment cannot become final for at least three months. There will be no immediate changes to the present situation.
The Government are already in the process of commissioning a major study to reassess attitudes to aircraft noise, which will include further research into subjective responses to annoyance by night and by day. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 8 May 2001, Official Report, column 41W, to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Andy King). It would be premature to initiate further studies into any other aspects of night flights while we are considering the implications of this judgment.