Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken with relevant authorities to reduce aviation noise pollution in (a) Romford constituency and (b) England.

The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed effectively to promote good health and minimise disruption to people’s quality of life.

Defra is required to produce, consult and publish Noise Action Plans for transport noise, under the terms of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006, every five years to help manage noise. Under the Regulations airport operators are the competent authority for preparing airport Noise Action Plans.

The latest Round of Airport Noise Action Plans were published in October and November 2024 by 15 Airports including London City Airport and Stansted Airport. It is up to individual airports to determine, including through public consultation, the most effective measures to implement within an action plan.

Defra has worked with the Department for Transport which commissioned the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a critical review of the efficiency and effectiveness of Noise Action Plans, for 10 Airports in the UK and Europe, in managing aviation noise around airports. The recommendations along with the final report are expected to be published in April 2025.