§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to give higher priority to tackling noise pollution.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordLocal authorities have a wide range of powers to tackle noise pollution from premises and from vehicles, machinery and equipment in the street. In response to rising numbers of complaints about noise, an increasing number of authorities have introduced 24-hour noise complaint services but this is a matter for each authority to decide on the basis of local priorities and needs. An inter-departmental working party was set up in October last year to review the controls over neighbour noise and to investigate options for swifter remedies. The working party expects to complete its review shortly and I intend to consult fully on its conclusions and recommendations.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions have been brought for noise nuisance for each year since 1979.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe numbers of prosecutions and convictions for noise nuisance in England and Wales for 693W each year since 1979 are as shown in the table. Figures are not yet available for 1993–94.
Noise nuisance prosecutions and convictions Prosecutions Convictions 1979 245 144 1980 240 171 1981 269 249 1982 263 205 1983–84 495 332 1984–85 355 298 1985–86 318 251 1986–87 430 342 1987–88 404 322 1988–89 446 418 1989–90 284 233 1990–91 559 465 1991–92 367 310 1992–93 416 343 Source:
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.