§ Mr. FitzpatrickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the decibel noise levels at which noise protection funding has been made available since 1968. [52896]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Noise Insulation Regulations 1975 were made retrospective to roads opened to traffic on or after the 17 October 1969. The qualifying noise level as described in my previous answer has remained unchanged since it was originally introduced.
§ Mr. FitzpatrickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions at what decibel level Government funding is available for noise insulation. [52895]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonGovernment funding is available only in cases where the noise level is expected to exceed a specified noise level and to have risen by at least 1 decibel above the prevailing noise level as the result of the creation or alteration of a trunk road. The level of road traffic noise specified in the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975 (as amended in 1988) is 68 decibels measured as an average level exceeded for 10 per cent. of the time between the hours of 6 am and midnight.