§ Mrs. Maureen HicksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he has under consideration to deal with noise nuisance from noisy parties.
§ Mr. BaldryThe working group set up to consider whether there is a need for further measures to control 689W noisy parties, announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside on 10 September met for the first time on 6 November.
The members of the group are Mr. Richard Ashworth, chief executive (environmental health and trading standards), Merton London borough council; Mr. David Horrocks, head of environmental health services, Brentwood district; Mr. Ron Hadfield, chief constable, West Midlands police; and officials from my Department and the Home Office.
The group are currently considering the extent to which existing legislation to control parties causing excessive noise might be used more effectively. The group expects to go on to consider whether amending legislation may be required.