§ Lord Barnbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can now indicate when they intend to introduce the predicted regulation controlling the exhaust noise of motor-cycles.
§ The Earl of AvonLower noise limits for new motorcycles in conformity with the current EC directive will be applied by our regulations from next October.
The European Commission is now discussing with member states possible lower noise limits for all vehicles, although no specific proposals for motorcycles have yet been tabled. This review is taking into account the environmental needs, energy implications, cost and the technical feasibility of meeting lower noise limits.
The Government have recently made proposals for clarifying the law so as to ease the enforcement of the rules against excessively noisy exhaust silencers.