Department for Transport
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Consultation begins on Heathrow equalities impact assessment
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
