asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, following the report of the Noise Advisory Council, he will take further steps to abate industrial noise.

Following publication in March, 1970 of the report of an extensive investigation into hearing and noise in industry, our Industrial Health Advisory Committee set up a special sub-Committee on industrial noise with the following terms of reference—

"to consider what action should be taken to prevent loss of hearing by employed persons due to industrial noise, and to report back to the I.H.A.C"

This step was welcomed by the Noise Advisory Council in its report.My right hon. Friend must await the advice of the I.H.A.C. before considering what further steps should be taken, but in the meantime, H.M. Factory Inspectorate will continue to investigate noise in industry and to advise firms on noise problems.