HL Deb 25 October 1994 vol 558 cc438-9

2.56 p.m.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prosecutions there were during 1993 for excessive exhaust noise emitted by (a) motor cars; (b) motor cycles; and (c) commercial vehicles; and how many convictions resulted.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, it is not possible to give the detailed statistics requested but I am able to give provisional figures for all vehicle noise offences in England and Wales for 1993. They were: 7,857 prosecutions and 5,352 convictions.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Will he agree with me that the British public are becoming increasingly frustrated with the noise emitted by motor cycles whose owners have been tampering with their exhausts, removing them altogether or maintaining them badly? Would it not help if the Government were to give a stronger lead to the enforcement of existing regulations, let alone the new ones coming from Brussels, in order that the machines may be taken off the road and have their silencers improved? Finally, will my noble friend agree that unless the rules are enforced it brings the whole law into disrepute?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I can reassure my noble friend that the Government take the issue of vehicle exhaust and other noise extremely seriously. We recognise that many members of the public have anxiety about perhaps a small number of especially noisy motor cycles. That is why we have brought forward regulations to control the construction of replacement silencers. We have also addressed the issue of noise from new machines. I agree with my noble friend that enforcement is equally important.

Lord Strathcarron

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that when motor cycles leave the factory they are commendably quiet? In many cases, they are quieter than a motor car. It is a very small minority of motor cyclists who tamper with the exhaust or sometimes fit a replacement exhaust because they cannot afford the high cost of replacing the original exhaust system. Will my noble friend agree that it is quite wrong to tar all motor cyclists with the same brush?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I agree with my noble friend on that point. The issue of tampering is important, the problem is largely caused by a small number of irresponsible motor cyclists who have perhaps fitted racing-type silencers or have tampered with the original device. That is why the enforcement of the law on the issue by police is extremely important.

Lord Jenkins of Hillhead

My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware that if this is a matter of a very small minority, that small minority get about to a quite remarkable extent?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the advantage of riding a motor cycle is being able to get about quickly.

Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove

My Lords, in my experience, the motor cyclists who "get about" all seem to try to get about between midnight and 2 a.m. I have had experience of the problem. One night, in a street in Glasgow I spoke to a passing policeman and suggested to him that he could radio to another officer on patrol, who could catch the lad involved before he got home; and that was done. Does the Minister accept that is a way to deal with the problem? It is nearly always at night that one hears the really excessive noise. Does the Minister agree that such patrols on the part of the police would very soon make motor cyclists riding on particular routes realise that what they were doing was not worth the candle?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that enforcement is not exactly straightforward. It is a matter for the police, who have to make an operational decision. There are of course difficulties with measuring noise; but I agree that the small minority of those riding motor cycles which have very loud exhausts can be spotted. Perhaps the motor cycles have had holes drilled in the exhausts or have the wrong type of silencer fitted. That is why we have brought forward regulations and measures to make the job of the police easier; namely, by requiring a particular marking on silencers that have been approved.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the emissions from exhausts are far more dangerous than the noise? What steps are the Government taking to control emissions?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that the issue of gas emissions from exhausts is an extremely serious one. I would also say that his question is different from the one that we are considering. We are taking a number of measures to address this important issue.