Noise (Effect on Health) (Hansard, 14 April 1969)

§ 4. Mr. Archer
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has studied the results of recent research into the effect of noise on health; and what action he proposes to take.

§ Mr. Ennals
I know of no recent reports of research into the effect of noise on health generally, but we have recently received a report on research into the effects of industrial noise on hearing. It has been referred to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council for consideration and advice and also to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity.

§ Mr. Archer
Would my hon. Friend agree that it is better to avoid injury to health than to compensate for it afterwards? Would he seize the opportunity, while this is being considered, to invite his colleagues from other Departments to consider methods by which injury to health can be reduced rather than the people concerned being compensated afterwards?

§ Mr. Ennals
I will bring those points to the attention of my right hon. Friends.

§ Sir J. Vaughan-Morgan
Would the hon. Gentleman see that some research is done into the effects of noise, particularly on those living in the vicinity of airports, which is becoming a growing menace to health?

§ Mr. Ennals
That is quite a different question. The right hon. Gentleman can put down a Question to the appropriate Minister.

§ Mr. Richard
Might I pursue the question raised by the right hon. Member for Reigate (Sir J. Vaughan-Morgan)? With respect, this is not a question for another Ministry. If there is a health hazard because of aircraft noise to those living in the vicinity of airports, that seems to me very much within my hon. Friend's portfolio. Does he not think that it is high time that rather more vigorous steps were taken to make those of his hon. Friends who are responsible for the number of aircraft going into London Airport more aware of the dangers to health of continuous noise?

§ Mr. Ennals
The research to which I referred is, of course, Government-sponsored, undertaken by the Medical Research Council and the National Physical Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology. It is very serious and fundamental research into the problems of noise in industry. We are considering this very seriously, but the terms of reference do not include the effect of noise at a distance from an airport.