§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will carry out a survey on noise levels in the textile industry, in view of the fact that many of the noises are above the recognised standards.
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§ Mr. Harold Walker:I have been asked to reply.
I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there is already a considerable body of information available on noise levels in the textile industry. Surveys have been carried out by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate and this information is available in the First Report of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Welfare in the Cotton and Allied Fibres Industry "Towards a healthy working environment", and Technical Data Note 31"Noise in Weaving Sheds: a short survey". Information has also been published by various other bodies, for example, the Wool Industry Research Association and the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers. It is thought that further surveys would not usefully add to this information.