To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department plans to issue a new version of the Aviation White Paper to take account of developments since 2004. (268994)

Since the publication of “The Future of Air Transport” White Paper in 2003, the Department for Transport has undertaken a significant programme of work to ensure that the long-term strategy set out in the White Paper remains up-to-date, including: “The Future of Air Transport Progress Report” in 2006; the consultation on “Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport” and the decisions announced on 15 January 2009, and updated UK air passenger demand and CO₂ forecasts in 2007 and 2009. A further progress report on the White Paper is due to be published within the next two years, which will take into account developments across the range of White Paper policies. The Government have also stated their intention to produce a national policy statement on airports, based on the Air Transport White Paper, which satisfies the requirements of the 2008 Planning Act.