Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to undertake local noise surveys in communities that will be affected by the expansion of capacity at Heathrow.

Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) has made significant investment in noise surveying in recent years and now has over 44 noise monitors deployed around the airport. This is up from 15 noise monitors three years ago and the airport intends to invest more in noise monitoring in the future. Noise measurements from these monitors are used to validate the computer-modelled noise exposure contours produced by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The Government’s Aviation Strategy includes proposals to create minimum standards for noise monitoring around airports and we welcome views from all stakeholders in response to this.