§ 2.56 p.m.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they adhere to the last Government's target date of 1980 for the halving of present traffic noise.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that that is a very satisfactory Answer?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, we are always pleased to be able to please all parts of the House.
§ LORD IRONSIDEMy Lords, would my noble friend give more detail on this matter? I should like to know how he expects to achieve this result if the number of cars on the road is expected to double by this date?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, in regard to the last part of the noble Lord's question, we are talking about the reduction in sound of individual cars, lorries or motorcycles. We are going about this in two halves. We shall shortly be publishing regulations which will require lower noise limits by 1973, which is what was intended in the White Paper that noble Lords opposite published; and we have every hope that by 1980, with the scientific research that is going on, we shall be able further to reduce the target to that which was intended in the White Paper.
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, may I ask whether my noble friend is aware that laws in America are much more stringent about the abuse and use of silencers on motor cars than they are in this country? And may I, with great sympathy for his answer—and pleasure in it—ask him whether he will kindly look into the number of prosecutions that have been made with regard to abuse of silencer regulations in this country.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords. I am grateful for what the noble Earl says about America. I 288 will look into the matter and ask my right honourable friend in another place also to look into it. With regard to the latter part of his question, I may tell your Lordships that about 12,000 prosecutions are made each year by the police in regard to noise which is due to culpable fault of the owners.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, would it be possible for the noble Lord to bring the date of 1984 forward to 1971–72, because there is going to be a terrible noise in this country about Tory policy in the next two years.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, we are moving as fast as the scientists will allow us. By 1973 we are going to have a further reduction, as I have already said.