Ms Karen Buck MP
Aviation Minister
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR

25 July 2005

Could you please let me know whether the Aerodromes (Noise Restrictions) (Rules and Procedures) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No. 1742), which came into force on 6 August 2003 and implement into UK law the provisions of the European Directive on rules and procedures with regard to noise-related operating restrictions at European Union airports (2002/30/EC), apply to and govern Nottingham East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire? They apply, as you will know, to certain city airports and to other civil airports within the United Kingdom which have more than 50,000 take-offs or landings of civil subsonic jet aeroplanes per calendar year.

In a letter dated 16 September 2002 from John Spellar, then Minister of State at your Department, to Margaret Beckett (DfT ref. DJ/JS/023895/02), he wrote: “…Furthermore, a recent European Directive (2002/30/EC) relating to operating restrictions at the larger Community airports will be implemented in the UK by 28 September 2003 at the latest, and is likely to apply to EMA [my emphasis]. This Directive will introduce a framework for managing noise at individual airports and will allow exclusion of the relatively noisier 'marginal' chapter 3 aircraft provided possible alternative ways of delivering the relevant environmental objectives are first examined. The detailed implementation of the Directive will shortly be subject to consultation with interested parties.”

Can you please tell me whether John’s prediction was correct and, if not, why not? I look forward to hearing from you.

Edward Garnier