Civil Aviation Bill

Let me make some progress first. We have a full day’s debate, so we will have plenty of time to discuss these issues. The Bill will, among other things, strengthen and clarify powers to control aircraft noise and emissions, in line with the commitments given in the Government’s White Paper, ““The Future of Air Transport,”” which was published in December 2003. First, the Bill will amend the powers through which the Secretary of State currently controls aircraft noise at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Secondly, it will introduce new statutory provisions for controlling aircraft noise at airports where the Secretary of State does not exercise his powers.