Industrial Noise (Hansard, 10 July 1973)

§ 13. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further advisory leaflets about industrial noise have been issued by his Department since the publication of the code of practice.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
Since publication of the code, the Department has issued a technical data note on noise in weaving sheds and a television filler on the use of ear protectors. Further publications are being prepared, and in particular the Noise Sub-Committee of the Industrial Health Advisory Committee is working on a further code on machinery noise.

§ Mr. McNair-Wilson
I welcome my hon. Friend's reply, but does he not agree that the voluntary nature of these leaflets is no substitute for legislation to control noise in industry and to introduce ear protectors? When will such legislation be brought forward?

§ Mr. Smith
I agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of noise control. I regard the reduction of industrial noise as a matter of great importance. I am asking the Noise Sub-Committee of the Industrial Health Advisory Committee to study and report on the problems involved in framing practical and effective noise legislation.

§ Mr. Pavitt
In view of the fact that a court case has recently gone against the employers involving employers' liability in a case of deafness, does not the hon. Gentleman agree that this matter should now be made a scheduled complaint in industry? Will he do something about bringing in a system of medical coverage so that audiograms can be regularly taken to enable the Government to have the background knowledge against which legislation can be drafted?

§ Mr. Smith
These are matters which have a bearing on possible legislation. The hon. Gentleman will know that this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. I understand that he has received and is now studying a report on the subject from his Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

§ Mr. Harold Walker
One of the firm and unambiguous recommendations of the Robens Committee was that there should be basic legislation on noise control included in the Bill which the Government are proposing to bring forward next Session and that there should be a specialised branch of a unified inspectorate to deal with the question of noise. Since the consultative document is completely silent on this matter, and in view of the Minister's comments today, does this mean that the Government have dropped that Robens proposal?

§ Mr. Smith
No, Sir. What I said was that I am asking an expert advisory committee to look into the whole question with a view to framing practical and effective noise legislation. The hon. Gentleman will know that one does not just rush into these things without adequate consultation with those concerned. These are difficult and complex measures. We are moving on this matter—as opposed to what happened under the Labour Government, which did not move at all on this subject. What we are doing ties in effectively with the Robens proposals.