§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Transport what noise requirements are enforced for the control of the noise made by motor bicycles used in the United Kingdom; and if he will review the noise characteristics of models on sale in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. HoramNew motor cycles are subject to prescribed noise limits, which vary from 77 to 86 decibels according to the cylinder capacity of the engine. A general tightening of these limits is proposed under the terms of a newly agreed EEC directive. Motor cycles in use are also subject to prescribed limits and it is794W an offence to use a machine with a defective silencer or which causes any excessive noise. Enforcement is primarily a matter for the police but we have no reason to believe that models at present on sale in this country fail to comply with current standards. The exhaust system of all motor cycles is checked as part of the MOT test.