§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have noted the views put forward by the Consumer Council as to the desirability of gradually reducing the present maximum permitted noise level for road vehicles from 90 decibels to approximately 80 decibels, and whether they will consider taking action to bring about this reduction.]
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, the views of the Consumer Council have been taken into account with those expressed by other organisations who have been consulted about the regulations which Her Majesty's Government propose to make to control the noise from motor vehicles. The maximum permissible noise levels which these regulations propose are regarded as a first step and are in line with agreement reached under the Economic Commission for Europe as the lowest practicable levels which can be achieved at the present time. It remains the stated objective of Her Majesty's Government to advocate the adoption under the Commission of progressively lower maximum permissible noise levels as research and development indicate what can be done.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for what I am sure will prove, to be, when I have been able to digest it, a less disappointing Answer than I had expected. But may I ask the Government please to bear in mind that it was a wise man who said that Hell is probably a very noisy place?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for what he said in the first part of his supplementary. On the second part, I am not sure whether it was a wise man or a foolish man; and anyway, I am not sure that I can agree with what he said.
§ LORD POPPLEWELLMy Lords, could my noble friend give any indication of when the Government hope to present these regulations? This matter has been going on for a considerable time, and a lot of research has been 1267 done in connection with it. I am sure that London Transport itself, with its buses, has done a wonderful job in connection with reducing noise. Also, can my noble friend say whether anything can be done in the proposed regulations to stop motorcyclists from taking the baffle plates out of their silencers? If something were done in that direction there would be a considerable reduction in noise.
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, I cannot say when I shall be able to give my noble friend the information for which he has asked. All I can do is repeat what I said to the noble Lord who tabled the Question, that this is a first step. The situation will be watched, and it is hoped that at the appropriate time this noise level will be further reduced.
§ BARONESS ELLIOT OF HARWOODMy Lords, it is a fact that certain cars which are exported from this country make far less noise than some of the cars used here. Therefore, may I ask the noble Lord whether it would be possible to take steps to see that the noise from cars used here is at least no louder than the level which is allowed from cars for export?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, it is certainly an interesting point which the noble Baroness has raised, and I will see that what she said is brought to the notice of the appropriate Ministry.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord for this information? Are the Government not permitting a good deal more noise than the Wilson Committee recommended?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONThat may be so, slightly, my Lords; but I would remind the noble Lord that this is just the first step, and the situation will be watched. We hope that it will be possible at the appropriate time to reduce the noise.