The Government’s overall policy on aviation noise seeks to balance the economic and consumer benefits of aviation against their national and local social and health impacts. The effect of aviation noise must be mitigated as much as is practicable and realistic to do so, limiting, and where possible reducing, the total adverse effects on health and quality of life from aviation noise. The Government sets noise controls, including restrictions on night operations, at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports as these airports are “designated” under the Civil Aviation Act 1982. This reflects these airports’ strategic importance and the need to balance the effects on communities with benefits to the UK economy. Regarding other airports, the Government’s view is that controls should be locally set.