§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Health whether he will appoint a committee to inquire into the detrimental effect of unnecessary noise on the health of people living in large cities; and how far medical opinion supports the view that many instances of nervous breakdowns, etc., are due to causes which can be to a great extent eliminated?
§ Sir K. WoodResearch into the effects of noise on workers carried out by the Industrial Health Research Board of the Medical Research Council, on which reports have been published, shows that42W it is very difficult to detect and measure any specific effects of noise on health, and it is hardly possible to assess within the limits of a Parliamentary answer the influence which medical opinion would assign to the part played by noise in the increased strain of modern life. I will send my hon. and gallant Friend some references to medical publications on this subject. As at present advised, I do not think the subject lends itself to investigation by a committee as suggested.