§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list those regulations governing the level of sound played in clubs where music is played; [13706]
(2) what assessment he has made of measures to encourage voluntary limitation of exposure to high decibel noise levels in clubs where music is played; [13708]
(3) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the long-term effects of unprotected exposure to high levels of sound in clubs where music is played; [13707]
(4) what plans he has to extend existing legislation on noise safety at work to clubs where music is played. [13709]
§ Angela EagleRisks from noise exposure to people who work in clubs are covered by the Noise at Work Regulations 1989, while the health and safety of members of the public who attend clubs is governed by the general148W requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. There are no plans to change this legislation in relation to clubs.
The licensing of clubs where music is played is the responsibility of the relevant licensing authority. It is for them to attach to licences such conditions as they consider necessary to protect the interests of both those attending the venue and those living nearby.
There has been substantial worldwide research on the effects of noise exposure on hearing, including work commissioned over many years by the Health and Safety Executive. In particular, the Health and Safety Executive published in 1985 a review by the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research of the literature on damage to hearing arising from leisure noise, including noise in discotheques.
There has been no assessment of measures to encourage the voluntary limitation of exposure to high decibel noise levels in clubs where music is played.