§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Council directive arising from the proposal of the Commission of the European Communities on the subjeect of noise at work, calling for the maximum exposure of 85 dB(A) Leq has not yet come into force; and if he will make a statment.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Commission proposal to which the hon. Member refers was formally amended by the Commission itself in July 1984 to take account of the opinion delivered by the European Parliament. In its amended form, the proposal provides for a maximum exposure limit of 90 rather than 85 dB(A) Leq. Discussions based on this amended proposal have 523W continued between officials of the member states, and the outcome of those discussions is being considered at today's Labour and Social Affairs Council in Luxembourg.