Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent their efforts to reduce environmental impacts of aviation will include (1) the use of larger and quieter aircraft such as A380 and Boeing 787, (2) the reduction of carbon emissions, and (3) where appropriate, the limitation on constructing new runways.

The Government is currently developing its Aviation Strategy which sets out to achieve a safe, secure and sustainable aviation sector that meets the needs of consumers in a global, outward-looking Britain. As part of the development of the Aviation Strategy, government is considering the best actions and policies to support growth while tackling environmental impacts.

In the development of the Aviation Strategy, the Government is exploring strengthening incentives to bring forward production and operation of quieter aircraft.

The Aviation Strategy development also includes putting in place a framework for UK aviation carbon emissions to 2050, which ensures that aviation contributes its fair share to action on climate change, including the UK’s domestic and international obligations.

The Government has now designated the Airports National Policy Statement which sets out the need for additional airport capacity in the south-east of England and why Government believes that need is best met by a new Northwest runway at Heathrow Airport. The NPS is clear that a new Northwest Runway Scheme will not receive planning consent unless it can demonstrate compliance with our air quality obligations and adequately mitigate against other environmental impacts of expansion. The detail of the environmental mitigation package will be developed at a later stage through the development consent process.

We will be publishing a Green Paper on the Aviation Strategy for public consultation later in 2018 and a White Paper in the first half of 2019.