§ Mrs. McKayasked the Minister of Labour, in view of the known damaging effects of noise, if he is satisfied that he has sufficient powers under existing legislation to require employers to take the necessary steps, to protect the hearing of employees; what action he is taking to do so; what surveys of noise in factories are being carried out by the Industrial Hygiene Division of the Factory Inspectorate; whether permissible levels of noise exposure have been established against which the results of such surveys 231W have been assessed; and what are these levels.
§ Mr. GunterI have powers under the Factories Act to deal with noise which presents a danger to the health of employees and somewhat wider powers under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act. The need to strengthen these powers is one of the matters I shall consider in connection with the revision of these Acts. The Medical Research Council are conducting a major research project into the effect of industrial noise on hearing with which my Department has co-operated. The results are not yet available.