HC Deb 24 March 1981 vol 1 cc795-6
7. Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he plans to meet the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to discuss noise levels in industry.

Mr. Waddington

I meet the chairman frequently, but have no plans at present to discuss this particular matter.

Mr. Chapman

Will my hon. and learned friend bear in mind the fact that keeping within reasonable noise levels in factories is important not only to the health of employees but also to residents who live nearby, especially at night if factories work a shift system? Will he consult other appropriate Ministers as well as the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission? does he accept that a wider environmental dimension is increasingly important?

Mr. Waddington

The Health and Safety Commission will shortly publish a consultative document on the protection of the hearing of people at work. Clearly, in certain circumstances, noise reductions at work for the protection of employees may also benefit the general public. The prime responsibility for combating nuisance to the public as a result of noise rests not with my Department but with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, as well as with local authorities, which were given new powers in the Control of Pollution Act 1974. I shall certainly pass on my hon. Friend's remarks to the Secretary of State for the Environment. I can assure him that we all treat seriously the pollution of the environment by noise.

Mr. Pavitt

In the International Year of Disabled People. is the Minister aware that, unless the noise threshold is reduced to 80 decibels within a short time, thousands of people will become deaf? Will he hold an urgent meeting with the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission and the CBI about taking preventive measures, such as those operated by Heinz in my constituency?

Mr. Waddington

The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that the consultative document will be published before long. I understand that it will contain draft regulations dealing with noise levels at work and a draft code of practice. He will be able to state his views, as the matter will no doubt be thoroughly discussed and debated.