To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the (a) surface area of and (b) number of people resident within the boundaries of the (i) 43-decibel and (ii) 57-decibel contour at Heathrow in each year since 1997; (283957)

As explained in the written answer on 25 February 2009, Official Report, columns 856-7W, daytime noise from aircraft is not normally assessed below 57 dBA or, for sensitivity analysis, below 54 dBA. Figures for 43 dBA are not therefore available.

Noise contour reports covering Heathrow from 1997 onwards are available on the Department for Transport’s website:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/nec/