Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill

House of Commons

Session 2004 - 05
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill

Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill

1

A

Bill

To

Provide for the preparation and implementation of an integrated air transport

plan to reduce air traffic emissions.

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and

consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present

Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1

Integrated air transport plan

(1)

It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to draw up, within two years of the

coming into force of this Act, an integrated air transport plan for the United

Kingdom (“the plan”) which will set out—

(a)

the Secretary of State’s estimate of total air traffic emissions to which

5

this Act applies in 2000;

(b)

a statement of what measures are, in his opinion, necessary in order to

achieve the following air traffic emissions targets (“the targets”)—

(i)

that, by the year 2010, total air traffic emissions to which this Act

applies do not exceed 95 per cent of the amount contained in the

10

estimate referred to in paragraph (a);

(ii)

that, by the year 2015, total air traffic emissions to which this Act

applies do not exceed 90 per cent of the amount contained in the

estimate referred to in paragraph (a);

(iii)

that, by the year 2020, total air traffic emissions to which this Act

15

applies do not exceed 85 per cent of the amount contained in the

estimate referred to in paragraph (a); and

(c)

such other matters relating to air traffic emissions to which this Act

applies as he considers appropriate to include in the plan and, where

appropriate, a statement relating to their implementation.

20

(2)

In preparing the plan, the Secretary of State shall have regard to—

(a)

the impact of air traffic on communities;

(b)

the transport needs of people;

(c)

the impact of air traffic on the environment, both locally and globally;

and

25

Bill 94 53/4

Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill

2

(d)

any representations made as part of the process of consultation in

accordance with the provisions of subsection (3).

(3)

In preparing the plan the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a)

such organisations as appear to him to represent—

(i)

local authorities;

5

(ii)

the interests of business;

(iii)

the interests of users of air transport; and

(iv)

persons concerned with the protection of the environment; and

(b)

such other persons as he thinks fit to consult.

(4)

The Secretary of State shall—

10

(a)

as soon as is practicable after completion of the plan, lay the plan before

each House of Parliament; and

(b)

consider any matters arising from any debate that takes place in either

House of Parliament on the plan.

(5)

After doing the things specified in subsection (4), the Secretary of State shall take such

15

steps as are, in his opinion, necessary to implement the measures included in the plan.

(6)

Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5), steps taken under that subsection

may include—

(a)

action by the Secretary of State himself; and

(b)

action by the Secretary of State to assist or support any action being taken or

20

proposed to be taken by any person.

(7)

The Secretary of State shall, in the course of each calendar year after that in

which the first steps are taken in accordance with the provisions of subsection

(5), lay before each House of Parliament a report on—

(a)

steps taken under subsections (5) and (6) during the period to which the

25

report relates, and

(b)

the Secretary of State’s assessment of the impact of those steps and

other developments on—

(i)

implementation of measures contained in the plan,

(ii)

progress towards meeting the targets,

30

(iii)

levels of air traffic.

(8)

Within three years of the taking of the first steps in accordance with the

provisions of subsection (5), and at least once every three years thereafter, the

Secretary of State shall—

(a)

review the plan,

35

(b)

prepare a report of the review, including any proposals for revision of

the plan, and

(c)

lay a copy of the report of the review before each House of Parliament.

(9)

The Secretary of State shall, after considering—

(a)

any matters arising from any debate that takes place in either House of

40

Parliament on the report of the review; and

(b)

any other factors that he considers relevant,

lay a revised plan before each House of Parliament and proceed in accordance

with the provisions of subsection (5).

Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill

3

2

Interpretation

(1)

In this Act—

“air traffic emissions to which this Act applies” means the sum of

emissions caused by relevant air traffic and associated activities of —

(a)

carbon monoxide (CO),

5

(b)

nitrogen oxides (NOx), and

(c)

greenhouse gases;

“airport” means the aggregate of the land, buildings and works

comprised in an aerodrome within the meaning of the Civil Aviation

Act 1982 (c. 16);

10

“the armed forces of the United Kingdom” means “the regular services”

and the reserve forces within the meaning given by section 127 of the

Reserve Forces Act 1996 (c. 14);

“associated activities” means such activities falling within subsection (3)

as give rise to emissions of—

15

(a)

carbon monoxide (CO),

(b)

nitrogen oxides (NOx), or

(c)

greenhouse gases,

in respect of which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the volume

of emissions is related to the volume of air traffic or to emissions from

20

aircraft;

“greenhouse gases” means—

(a)

carbon dioxide,

(b)

methane,

(c)

nitrous oxide,

25

(d)

hydrofluorocarbons,

(e)

perfluorocarbons,

(f)

sulphur hexafluoride;

“relevant air traffic” means air traffic within United Kingdom and United

air space other than air traffic to which subsection (2) applies.

30

(2)

This subsection applies to air traffic caused by or for the purposes of—

(a)

the armed forces of the United Kingdom; or

(b)

the armed forces of another country.

(3)

The following activities fall within this subsection—

(a)

the movement of aircraft on the ground,

35

(b)

the operation of the engine of an aircraft in a stationary position,

(c)

aircraft maintenance,

(d)

all services provided within airports associated with air traffic and air

passengers, and

(e)

the provision of transport to and from airports,

40



so far as they relate to relevant air traffic.

3

Expenses

There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—

(a)

any expenditure incurred by Secretary of State in consequence of this Act, and

(b)

any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of money so

45

provided under any other Act.

Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill

4

4

Citation and extent

(1)

This Act may be cited as the Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Act 2005.

(2)

This Act extends to Northern Ireland.