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Air Traffic (Demand)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted by his Department since 1997 or is planned on increases in air passenger numbers for the United Kingdom which (a) have taken place, and (b) are projected. [81409]

Mr. Jamieson: Since 1997, the results of research on increases in air passenger numbers have been published in XAir Traffic Forecasts for the United Kingdom 2000, published by the Department in May 2000 and in the national airport consultation documents, published in July this year.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research has been conducted by his Department or is planned on the causal processes responsible for (a) past and (b) potential future increases in air passenger numbers and air freight; and if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library; [81416]

(2) what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the causal processes and mechanisms responsible for (i) past and (ii) potential future increases in air passenger numbers and air freight. [81417]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department's air traffic forecasts XAir Traffic Forecasts for the United Kingdom 2000", published in May 2000 considers the key economic drivers behind past and projected future increases in air passenger numbers. In addition the factors underlying growth of air passenger are freight traffic are addressed in the consultation documents on regional air services and airports published in July 2002. Supporting material on freight can be found in documents 39, 40 and 67 referred to in Annex C of the South East Consultation document. The Department has had no specific discussions or representations on this question, although it may be covered in the responses to the national airport consultation which closes on 30 November.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the past and potential effect on passenger numbers of the inter-relationship between consumer-driven and producer-driven aviation demand; [81423]

(2) what research has been conducted by his Department or is planned on the past and potential effect on passenger numbers of the inter-relationship between consumer-driven and producer-driven aviation demand. [81422]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department's air traffic forecasts, published in 2000 considers the factors underlying growth of business and leisure air traffic. No research on the inter-relationship between consumer-driven and producer-driven demand has been conducted or is

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planned, but insofar as producer-driven demand leads to higher GDP than would otherwise be the case, the resulting higher incomes will tend to lead to more leisure travel. The Department has had no specific discussions or representations on this issue, although this subject may be covered in the responses to the national airport consultation which closes on 30 November.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted by his Department, or is planned, on the role of advertising and promotion in (a) the past and potential future growth of air traffic and (b) past and potential future modal shift between air transport and other modes. [81426]

Mr. Jamieson: No research has been conducted or is planned on the role of advertising or promotion in either the growth of air traffic or modal shift between aviation and other forms of transport.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the role of advertising and promotion in (i) the past and potential future growth of air traffic and (ii) past and potential future modal shift between air transport and other modes. [81427]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department has undertaken no work and have had no specific discussions or representations on the role of advertising and promotion in relation to these questions, although this subject may be covered in the responses to the national airport consultation which closes on 30 November.

Aircraft Emissions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research has been conducted by his Department or is planned on the role of emissions trading within the aviation industry; [81428]

(2) what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the role of emissions trading within the aviation industry. [81429]

Mr. Jamieson: Last year the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) endorsed the development of an emissions trading system for international aviation that would involve trading with other sectors. It requested its Council as a matter of priority to develop guidelines for the structural and legal basis of such a system consistent with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. My Department has since discussed this at various meetings under ICAO's auspices. It has also discussed it with several UK stakeholders as part of meetings on wider issues. Representations made so far have all been broadly supportive. Further discussions of both kinds are expected. The ICAO work is still at a relatively early stage. The Department itself has not conducted research on this subject, nor is it planning to do so.

Aircraft Noise

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) discussions his Department has had

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or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the past and potential future impact of (i) changes in noise levels permitted from individual aircraft and (ii) changes in the size of aircraft upon (A) past increases and future total passenger and freight numbers and (B) past and future (1) economic, (2) environmental and (3) social impacts. [81418]

Mr. Jamieson: The full information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The assessment of options for the future of UK aviation contains information on economic, social and environmental impacts. This information is set out in the national airport consultation documents published in July 2002. A complete set of those documents and supporting material is available in the Libraries of the House.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the past and potential future impact of (i) compensation and (ii) noise insulation schemes being made available to householders near airports upon (A) past increases and future total passenger and freight numbers and (B) past and future (1) economic, (2) environmental and (3) social impacts; [81421]

(2) what assessment and research has been made by his Department, or is planned, of the past and potential future impact of (a) compensation and (b) noise insulation schemes being made available to householders near airports upon (i) past increases and future total passenger and freight numbers and (ii) past and future (A) economic, (B) environmental and (C) social impacts; [81420]

(3) what (a) compensation and (b) noise insulation schemes are available to householders near airports; what the total level of compensation and financial support has been in each year since 1992; what plans there are to change the nature of the schemes. [81419]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government consider that providing for the effective management of the impacts of airport development will be a key element of a sustainable airports policy. Indeed, this is identified as one of three central issues in the current consultation document, XThe Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom". The document includes proposals for a range of measures aimed at controlling or mitigating local impacts—including the effects of noise from aircraft—and, where that is not possible, providing adequate compensation. The Government are seeking consultees' views on those proposals and inviting other ideas for dealing with this issue.

We will study carefully what consultees say in their responses when we come to take decisions for the White Paper next year.

The SERAS study considered the economic costs of aircraft noise, based on observed impacts on property prices. The results are presented in paragraph 14.31 of the consultation document, which is available in the Libraries of the House along with all the SERAS technical reports.

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In terms of the current position on compensation and noise insulation schemes, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on 15 October 2002, Official Report, columns 721–22W, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 25 April 2002, Official Report, columns 388–89W. Information on costs paid under noise insulation schemes is not kept centrally.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has published a series of five booklets entitled, XCompulsory Purchase and Compensation", which are available free from Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, LS23 7NB (tel. [phone])—product code 01PD0458/l-5.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what UK legislation covers the maximum level of noise from aircraft (a) registered, (b) landing and (c) flying through airspace in the United Kingdom; and what plans there are to amend the legislation. [81424]

Mr. Jamieson: Noise certification requirements are prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), under Annex 16 Volume I of the Chicago Convention. The Aeroplane Noise Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No. 1452) and the Air Navigation (Environmental Standards) Order 2002 (SI 2002 No. 798) transpose these requirements, certain European aircraft noise Directives, and noise certification requirements for microlight aircraft developed by the Civil Aviation Authority, into UK legislation. Taken together, this legislation requires noise certification of most types of civil aircraft taking off or landing in the UK. Civil aircraft overflying UK airspace without taking off or landing in the UK are unlikely to cause significant noise nuisance.

EU Regulation 1592/2002 establishes with effect from 28 September 2003 the new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Article 15(l)(h) of that Regulation will confer on EASA a duty to issue environmental certificates, which currently is the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority for UK-registered aircraft. Future measures, such as those required to implement the ICAO Chapter 4 requirements for new types of jet aircraft from 2006, will be taken in this context. Detailed arrangements will be determined in due course.

In addition, departure noise limits are specified by Notice under s78 of the 1982 Act for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. Some other UK airports apply their own operational noise limits.

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