Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to introduce World Health Organisation guideline noise levels in order to safeguard the health of (a) children, (b) the elderly, (c) people with cardiovascular and mental health conditions and (d) other people from aircraft noise.

The WHO guidelines do not refer solely to noise from aviation, but relate to noise levels from any of various sources including other transport sources such as from road, rail, and non-transport sources such as construction, industry and the neighbourhood. It is not possible to have a single objective noise-based measure that is applicable to all sources of noise in all situations because effect levels are likely to be different for different noise sources, different people and at different times.

As such, the Government has no plans to introduce the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines for community noise. At a national level, the Government aims to promote good health and a good quality of life through the effective management of noise within the context of Government policy on sustainable development.