The cabinet must properly explain why its plans to cut 22,000 take-offs and landings at Schiphol airport will benefit people living nearby, the government’s highest advisory body, the Council of State, has said.

The cabinet has ordered the airport to reduce the number of slots, but it is unclear how the rights of local residents were taken into account when the decision was made, the council said on Monday.

Infrastructure minister Barry Madlener said earlier this year that Schiphol needed to reduce take-offs and landings from 500,000 a year to 478,000 to cut noise and other nuisance for locals.

However, the council said, the cabinet must show how it reached its decision and publish the relevant calculations.

The council also criticised the minister for his response to concerns from Brussels. The European Commission said ministers did not fully consider other options, such as using quieter planes, when looking at ways to cut noise.

Although the government has responded to the commission’s concerns, Madlener should provide more detailed information, the council said.

Plans to cut flights must be approved by Brussels, which sees them as a last resort for reducing airport nuisance.

Madlener said on Monday that his department would start working immediately on responding to the Council of State so that Schiphol can introduce the changes.

The previous cabinet had planned to cut flights to 452,500.

Last year, judges ruled that people living near the airport were not being adequately protected against noise pollution.