DEPARTMENT FOR
TRANSPORT News Release (146) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 15 September 2008
As previously
announced in a statement to Parliament on 8 July, the Department
for Transport (DfT) has today begun a consultation on how airport
development at Heathrow might affect different demographic groups
living near to the airport. The Equalities Impact Assessment
(EqIA) forms part of the Impact Assessment underpinning the
'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation
document and seeks to establish the impact of airport development
on different groups in terms of race, disability, age and social deprivation.
Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"Aviation contributes over £11bn to the economy and Heathrow
alone supports over 100,000 jobs. While Heathrow is vital to the
UK's economy, we have always made clear that expansion will
only go ahead if strict local environmental conditions on air
quality and noise can be met and improvements made to public
transport access to the airport.
"The EqIA will ensure we fully understand how airport
development might affect different groups around Heathrow by
reason of their race, disability, age or level of income.
"It will look specifically at whether there are groups of
individuals who would feel the effects of development more keenly,
either positively or negatively, as a result of their particular
sensitivity to the impacts."
Almost 70,000 individuals and organisations, from all sides of
the debate, responded to the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport
consultation, which the DfT is currently analysing. The Equalities
Impact Assessment will form part of the final Heathrow Impact
Assessment, which will be published alongside final Ministerial
decisions on Heathrow later this year.
The consultation closes on 9 November 2008.
Notes to Editors
1. The EqIA has been conducted by an independent consultancy,
Scott Wilson, and their assessment report can be found at Annex 3
of the consultation document. It records their views and
assessments on the evidence currently available and this, together
with the responses to the EqIA consultation, will be taken into
account by the Secretary of State for Transport in making a
decision on Heathrow.
2. In addition to the standard consultation processes, the
Department is intending to hold a number of stakeholder meetings
with equality representative groups to discuss the issues raised
in the EqIA consultation document. More information about the
consultation can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/heathrowconsultation.
3. The 2003 White Paper 'The Future of Air Transport'
made clear that given the economic benefits to the UK, the
Government supports the further development of Heathrow by adding
a third runway and exploring the scope for making greater use of
the existing runways, subject to meeting strict local conditions
on air quality and noise and improving public transport access.
4. In November 2007, the Department published a consultation on
the future expansion of Heathrow airport which invited views on:
* A revised proposal for a third runway and associated passenger
terminal facilities, and the Government's assessment of how
the strict local environmental conditions mentioned above could be met;
* A proposal to introduce 'mixed mode' on
Heathrow's existing two runways as an interim measure and the
Government's assessment of how the same strict local
environmental conditions could be met. In considering the
'mixed mode' options the consultation looked at the
position with or without additional air traffic movements;
* The results of a review of operational procedures on the
existing runways - 'westerly preference' (the preferred
direction of operation) and the 'Cranford agreement'
(which generally prohibits easterly departures off the northern
runway) - irrespective of any further changes; and
* An assessment of the effects of night-time rotation between
westerly and easterly preference, and of the current trial of
runway alternation in the 0600 to 0700 period.
5. The Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 8 July can
be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/wmsheathrowupdate
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk