Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the October 2018 World Health Organisation report on noise and health; and if he will make a statement.

The Government has noted the recent new Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region published by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO report agrees with the ambition to reduce noise and to minimise adverse health effects, but it also emphasizes the importance of policy being underpinned by the most robust evidence available on these effects.

The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed to promote good health and quality of life effectively. Between 4 October and 15 November 2018 the Government consulted on the Noise Action Plans, which are designed to manage environmental noise and its effects arising from road, rail and agglomerations (large urban areas). Airport operators have submitted their own separate plans covering their operations.