§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to introduce stage 2 noise limits on motor cycles under the relevant EEC directive; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleYes. It is the policy of the Government that motor cycle manufacturers should keep up with the rest of the motor industry by designing vehicles that use the most modern technology to reduce noise at source.
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§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to stop the sale of motor cycle exhaust systems which are labelled not for road use.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleRegulation 57(4) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 already provides that a motor cycle shall not be used on a road if it is fitted with an exhaust system marked with the words "not for road use" or words to the like effect. Section 76(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence to sell or supply an exhaust system which contravenes this regulation, the maximum penalty for which is £1,000. The Government have no plans to extend the on-road prohibition to off-road use where it would adversely affect machines used in competition.