§ Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the fact that the United Kingdom is the only member State in which a heavy lorry of over 200 155W horsepower has been developed to meet the European Economic Cummunity Council of Ministers' target noise level of 80dB (A) or under by 1985, whether the United Kingdom will accept this Community plan by that date.
§ Mr. FowlerI hope to make a statement soon on the reductions in noise levels which I think we and other member States should be aiming for over the next 10 years or so. The pioneering work done in this country on the quiet heavy vehicle project has certainly demonstrated the potential for considerable improvements with the heavier vehicles. I am now considering in the light of the very useful response to the consultation document I issued on this subject last year what noise limits are technically and economically feasible in production and when we can start to introduce them.