§ 36. Mr. Leaveyasked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce regulations prescribing noise levels, based on an acceptance of the internationally agreed methods of noise measurement as applied to motor vehicles.
§ Mr. HayThe International Standards Organisation has not yet agreed the proposed standard method of measuring noise from motor vehicles. In view of the delay, we propose to put in hand the making of new regulations based on the revised British Standard, which I understand will be published shortly. It will, however, be some time before new regulations in this complex field can be drafted and the statutory consultations completed.
§ Mr. LeaveyWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that statement, may I ask him for an assurance that, when these regulations are introduced, he and his right hon. Friend will use what good offices they can to see that they are robustly enforced, since he will agree that a great deal of noise resulting from transport is wholly unnecessary and, indeed, is deliberately created? This is a matter in which a great deal of progress can be made by robust administration of the regulations.
§ Mr. HayIt is because we are well aware of these considerations that we are taking the action I mentioned. We are, in fact, going a little ahead of international agreement on this matter.