To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport public consultation has taken account of the Putting noise on the map airport noise maps information published on 18th December 2007 by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to Heathrow airport; and if she will make a statement. (176961)

[holding answer 7 January 2008]: Paragraphs 51-54 of Annex E of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport Consultation document drew attention to the requirements of the European Environmental Noise Directive (END) 2002/49 EC for major airports to produce strategic noise maps. Following preparations of the noise maps, airports will have to produce action plans setting out measures to mitigate aircraft noise.

However the consultation document noted that, given the difference in parameters, it was not possible to draw any meaningful conclusions between the END Lden maps and the annual summer Leq contours used by the Department. The environmental commitment given in the Future of Air Transport White Paper undertook not to increase the size of the area significantly affected by noise as measured by the annual departmental 57dBA Leq noise contour.