23 March 2005 - Aircraft noise has risen ‘relentlessly’ since Labour came to power, according to a new report to be published by Green Euro-MP Caroline Lucas and London Assembly member Darren Johnson tomorrow (Thursday, March 24th).

“The Government’s love affair with the aviation industry has led to more, noisier flights than ever before – with more people losing sleep and suffering ill-health as a result,” said Dr Lucas, Green MEP for South-East England and a member of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, ahead of tomorrow’s launch.

The report shows that flight numbers and noise levels have soared since 1997, despite Labour claims that fewer people are affected by worsening noise levels.

In fact, the authors claim, the government has ignored World Health Organisation recommendations, refused to carry out surveys into the problem and relied on computer-generated figures based on 20-year-old findings.

Darren Johnson, a Green Party member of the London Assembly and co-author of the report, said: “We have become used to Labour’s spin machine but this report shows the extent to which the Government has massaged the figures. I hope this report goes some way towards unraveling the myths and presenting the facts."

Dr Lucas, a former rapporteur on the health impacts of the aviation industry for the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, said the problem was set to worsen dramatically under Government plans for the biggest expansion to the industry in a generation.

She added: “Aviation is the fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and its associated noise and air pollution are responsible for a massive impact on the health, quality of life – and finances - of increasing numbers of people.

“Yet the Government persists in its claim that our economy is at risk unless we build more and more runways to meet the insatiable demand of an industry which already receives more than £9bn of taxpayers’ cash in tax breaks and hidden subsidies.

“For the sake of public health, quality of life, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the public purse, we must take immediate steps to rein in the excesses of the aviation industry.”

The report makes four recommendations to tackle the problem: