Letter to Transport Secretary on the Aviation Policy Framework

Our Environment Committee wrote to Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport, to say that the Government’s new policy on aviation was disappointing and has failed to respond to environmental concerns on air quality and noise.

The letter said the new Aviation Policy Framework

fails to deliver on tackling airport noise, even though this was the leading theme of responses during the consultation phase

has not taken up the recommendation, put forward by the Committee and most of the consultation respondents, of a new benchmark for identifying communities most affected by noise

is weak on compensation for residents disturbed by aircraft because it supports self-regulation

is disappointing because there is no commitment to national action, such as including aviation in the five-year national carbon budgets.

The Committee also states that any environmental safeguards around new airport capacity must be fit for purpose and make a positive difference to the environment and health of people living close to airports.

The Committee's letter and the subsequent reply from the Government are both attached below.