§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which year his Department first became aware of the hum noise complaint relating to low frequency noise; if he will make a statement concerning the action by his Department since that time to investigate this complaint: and what results were obtained.
§ Mr. MacleanMy Department first became aware of the problem of low frequency noise in the late 1970s. The independent noise review conducted for my Department in 1990 observed that this was a difficult area in terms of measurement, individual sensitivity and identification of sources. It recommended full support for the programme of research being conducted for the Department by the Building Research Establishment which is due to be completed early next year. Complaints about low 529W frequency noise are investigated by local authorities under part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in the same way as other noise complaints.