§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the location of the nine testing centres he has authorised for testing lawnmowers under the Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherThe names and locations of the listed laboratories are given below. It should also be noted that the laboratories can also undertake on-site testing whenever appropriate.
- Acoustics Investigation and Research Organisation Ltd.
- Hemel Hempstead
- AV Technology Ltd. Stockport
- British Aerospace Hatfield
- British Standards Institute
- Hemel Hempstead
- Lloyd's Register of Shipping
- London
- Ricardo Consulting Engineers plc
- Shoreham-by-Sea
- Sound Research Laboratories Ltd.
- Sunbury-on-Thames
- Taywood Engineering Ltd.
- Southall
- Wimpey Laboratories Ltd.
- Hayes
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement setting out the means by which he intends to carry out periodic checks of lawnmowers, as provided in section 7 of the Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations 1986; what notice he will give of his intention to carry out checks at each location; whether he has powers under the regulations in appropriate circumstances, to force entry to domestic and industrial premises; and to whom he intends to delegate the powers of inspection;
(2) if batch sampling of new lawnmowers will be permitted after the implementing of the Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations.
561W
§ Mr. Butcher[pursuant to his reply, 4 November 1986, c. 382]: During the negotiation of this directive the United Kingdom view was that noise from lawnmowers was not a problem of sufficient substance to warrant a total harmonisation. However other member states considered it was, and in order to secure agreement so that barriers to trade would be removed, the United Kingdom had to seek a compromise that put the least burden on United Kingdom manufacturers and users.
The compromise reached in respect of member states obligations to verify that lawnmowers conform was that it should be done where possible by means of spot checks. In consequence the implementing regulations do not call for official systematic batch sampling. Nor at this stage is it considered necessary to introduce systematic spot checks. Should such spot checks be considered necessary in the future they would be carried out at manufacturers and importers premises. Section 7 of the Lawnmower (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations 1986 gives the Secretary of State the powers to carry out periodic checks, but it is envisaged that these powers will be exercised only when there are grounds for thinking that a manufacturer or importer is failing to comply with the directive. In such circumstances the inspection would be carried out by officials of the Department of Trade and Industry, assisted if necessary by suitable technical experts. The amount of notice to be given would be a matter for judgment in individual circumstances. The regulations do not give powers of entry and if entry were refused a court order would have to be sought. It is almost inconceivable that entry would be required to domestic premises as the directive refers to the marketing of new equipment which is not an activity generally carried out from such premises.