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Noise (Heathrow)
Dr. Tonge: To 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. Mullin: The Fifth Environmental Action Programme does not require such an assessment to be made.
Dr. Tonge: To 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. Mullin: The 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. Tonge: To 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. Mullin:
For 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 between
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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".
Dr. Tonge:
To 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. Mullin:
The 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.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require owners of birds of prey to have a licence of competence before allowing them to fly freely. [95320]
Mr. Mullin:
Adequate statutory controls are already in place to regulate possession, welfare and trade in these sensitive species. I believe we can continue to rely on the long tradition of British falconry and its voluntary associations to maintain and disseminate satisfactory standards for those who fly birds of prey.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the assistance being given to the UK construction industry to help in Turkey following the earthquake. [R] [95464]
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Mr. Raynsford:
I led a construction sector trade mission to Turkey on 20-24 September. One of the themes of this visit was to explore ways in which UK companies might participate in the planning and redevelopment of the areas worst affected by the tragic earthquake on 17 August.
I and the businessmen who travelled with me were appalled by the extent of destruction, particularly in the city of Adapazari. Adapazari has a population of 350,000 and is part of the industrial heartland of Turkey with some 350 factories. The World Bank investigation team estimated that the rebuilding of this city would require more time and more careful planning than the others which it had visited, because of the extent of the damage and the poor ground conditions that exist in the area.
Following the visit, the Government has in principle agreed to provide financial support, on a 50:50 basis, for an initiative by a group of nine UK companies which would provide much-needed consultancy advice on the reconstruction of Adapazari. This offer of assistance was delivered to the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey on Monday 18 October.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to provide for greater rights of public access to (a) coastal land, (b) privately-owned woodland and (c) riverbanks. [95434]
Mr. Mullin:
In March this year, the Government announced plans to introduce a new statutory right of access on foot to specified categories of open countryside--mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land. As part of its announcement, the Government also asked the Countryside Agency, together with the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission, to report on the case for extending public access to other types of open countryside, such as coast, woodland and riverside. We look forward to receiving their formal report and advice very shortly (I am aware that the Countryside Agency has already set out its recommendations on its website). We will wish to consider their views carefully before deciding how best to proceed.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of practical driving tests were passed each year from 1983; and in which year the Driving Standards Agency became fully self-funding. [95540]
Ms Armstrong:
Driving test pass rate data are not available for the years prior to 1989. Details for the financial years 1989-90 to 1998-99 are given in the following table.
The Driving Standards Agency became a Trading Fund in April 1997. Prior to that, it operated as an on-Vote non-statutory trading body, and was required to recover its full costs through fees and charges.
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Parish Councils
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to make an Order to effect the establishment of parish councils for (a) Hereford City and (b) Belmont; and if he will make a statement. [95676]
Ms Beverley Hughes: We intend to consult the Herefordshire Council and other interested parties shortly on a draft Order. Subject to that consultation the intention is to make the Order before the end of 1999 with the view to first elections for the new parishes being held in May 2000.
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