§ Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Transport what consultations he has had with the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research and the Department of Civil Engineering on the reduction of road noise; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarshA conference arranged by the British Road Federation took place at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton in March. It was opened on my behalf by the Director General of Highways and was attended also by other officials of my Department. The conclusions of the conference are being studied.
A Working Group, with secretariat provided by the Road Research Laboratory, has been set up to co-ordinate the planning and conduct of research on vehicle and traffic noise, its economic effects, and measures of prevention or mitigation. The Institute of Sound and Vibration Research is one of the bodies 311W represented on the Group. Others include the National Physical Laboratory, the Motor Industry Research Association and the Environmental Engineering Division of the Building Research Station.