Asked by: Lesley Laird (Labour - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will extend the scope of EU Regulation 598/2014 relating to noise-related operating restrictions at Scottish Airports to include management of aircraft noise for communities who currently within the area of the proposed competent authorities but are badly affected by noise from the two main Scottish airports.
Answered by Jesse Norman
EU Regulation 598/2014 establishes rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports. This includes the appointment of a competent authority in relation to the operating restrictions.
A competent authority’s role relates to the operating restriction itself and is not bound by geography. The Government’s implementation of this Regulation for Scotland, The Airports (Noise-Related Operating Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2019, laid before Parliament has been brought forward by the UK Government because this is a reserved matter in relation to Scotland. The Regulations designate Scottish Ministers as the competent authority for Scottish airports within the scope of the regulation.
Asked by: Lesley Laird (Labour - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps the (a) Government and (b) DVLA has taken to ensure that people over 70 are assessed to ensure safety when driving.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The existing process is that drivers must renew their driving entitlement at the age of 70 and every three years after that. This provides a timely reminder to individuals to consider their health in the context of driving. To renew they must make a legal declaration that they can meet the standards and confirm whether they have any listed medical condition. Those who advise of a medical condition will be investigated and a driving licence will only be issued if they can meet the appropriate health standards.
The Department for Transport announced in June 2018 that it has identified older people as one of four priority road user groups which will be included in the forthcoming Road Safety Statement and action plan. The DVLA is working closely with the Department on this.
Asked by: Lesley Laird (Labour - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to ensure the publication of all information in relation to Airspace Change Programmes.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In October 2017 the Government published revised air navigation guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the aviation industry. This guidance requires airspace change sponsors to consult with those who may be affected including airspace users and communities and to take their views into account when finalising their proposals.
A key requirement in the guidance is the need for sponsors following the Air Navigation Guidance 2017 to carry out a full assessment of the airspace options they are considering. This assessment takes into account the health effects of the proposals.
Under the new CAA airspace change process (CAP 1616) all relevant information is published on the CAA website. For proposals being considered under the old CAP 725 process, we have asked the CAA to ensure that the final proposals submitted to it for approval are also published on its website.
As agreed with CAA, any airspace change sponsor who had launched their public consultation on their proposal before 2 January 2018 is being assessed against the requirements of CAP725 and the Air Navigation Guidance 2014.
Asked by: Lesley Laird (Labour - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that the health impacts of communities under proposed flight paths are taken into account in decisions on Airspace Change Programmes, including the recommendation of the World Health Organisations that people can receive eight hours of undisturbed sleep.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In October 2017 the Government published revised air navigation guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the aviation industry. This guidance requires airspace change sponsors to consult with those who may be affected including airspace users and communities and to take their views into account when finalising their proposals.
A key requirement in the guidance is the need for sponsors following the Air Navigation Guidance 2017 to carry out a full assessment of the airspace options they are considering. This assessment takes into account the health effects of the proposals.
Under the new CAA airspace change process (CAP 1616) all relevant information is published on the CAA website. For proposals being considered under the old CAP 725 process, we have asked the CAA to ensure that the final proposals submitted to it for approval are also published on its website.
As agreed with CAA, any airspace change sponsor who had launched their public consultation on their proposal before 2 January 2018 is being assessed against the requirements of CAP725 and the Air Navigation Guidance 2014.
Asked by: Lesley Laird (Labour - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department takes to ensure that the views of affected communities are taken into account in decisions on Airspace Change Programmes.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In October 2017 the Government published revised air navigation guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the aviation industry. This guidance requires airspace change sponsors to consult with those who may be affected including airspace users and communities and to take their views into account when finalising their proposals.
A key requirement in the guidance is the need for sponsors following the Air Navigation Guidance 2017 to carry out a full assessment of the airspace options they are considering. This assessment takes into account the health effects of the proposals.
Under the new CAA airspace change process (CAP 1616) all relevant information is published on the CAA website. For proposals being considered under the old CAP 725 process, we have asked the CAA to ensure that the final proposals submitted to it for approval are also published on its website.
As agreed with CAA, any airspace change sponsor who had launched their public consultation on their proposal before 2 January 2018 is being assessed against the requirements of CAP725 and the Air Navigation Guidance 2014.