The science of noise barriers (acoustic fencing) is well established. A noise barrier creates a "shadow zone" behind it, reducing the energy of the sound waves in a comparable way to a breakwater protecting a harbour. The Highways Agency is actively encouraging developments in noise barrier technology and is represented on the British Standards Institution (BSI) committee involved in preparing new standards for noise barriers in line with the EU Harmonised standard EN1793.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/350", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Hayes"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Holland and The Deepings"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr John Hayes"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-05T12:36:21.0153121Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Road Traffic: Noise"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of acoustic fencing on reducing traffic noise levels.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/534", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Ruane"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Vale of Clwyd"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Ruane"} ], "uin" : "212556"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101986", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101986/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
It is well understood that trees and vegetation have a limited effect on noise propagation from roads, and a broad band of densely planted trees is required to significantly reduce noise.<\/p>
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The EC\u2019s 'HOSANNA' research project (Holistic and Sustainable Abatement of Noise by Optimised Combinations of Natural and Artificial Means) has identified and assessed vegetation strategies that could deliver perceptible noise reductions. The project\u2019s findings became available between 2010 and 2013.<\/p>
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The Highways Agency will consider these strategies for use on new or modified road schemes.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/350", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Hayes"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Holland and The Deepings"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr John Hayes"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-05T12:37:27.7199779Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Road Traffic: Noise"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of trees and vegetation in reducing traffic noise levels.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/534", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Ruane"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Vale of Clwyd"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Ruane"} ], "uin" : "212557"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101987", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101987/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Calculation of Road Traffic Noise (CRTN) provides advice on appropriate road surface corrections to be applied within noise assessments. However, this advice does not currently extend to the range of proprietary thin bituminous surfacing materials, commonly regarded as a low-noise surfacing, which emerged in the late 1990\u2019s. There is additional advice to CRTN procedures in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges in the noise and vibration standard HD213. Revised in 2011, HD213 sets out an example methodology which can be used to determine appropriate road surface corrections for low-noise surfaces.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/350", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Hayes"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Holland and The Deepings"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr John Hayes"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-05T12:38:26.1257718Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Roads: Noise"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of different types of road surfaces on traffic noise levels.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/534", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Ruane"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Vale of Clwyd"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Ruane"} ], "uin" : "212558"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101497", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101497/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Where an ERO does not carry out their duties in full, the Commission\u2019s priority is to take action to ensure that the ERO makes improvements to their performance in the discharge of their functions. In doing this, the Commission will consider all available options to determine a proportionate response based on the facts of each particular case.<\/p>
Failure to comply with a legal duty can constitute an offence. It is open to anyone who believes that such an offence may have been committed to refer the matter to the police for investigation. In deciding whether to bring a prosecution the Crown Prosecution Service would consider all relevant circumstances, including the reasons for the alleged breach and whether a prosecution is in the public interest.<\/p>
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<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/234", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Gary Streeter"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Devon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Gary Streeter"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-05T10:08:45.2292061Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "36"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electoral Register"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the Electoral Commission's policy is on referral to the police of electoral registration officers who do not fulfil their legal obligations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/534", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Ruane"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Vale of Clwyd"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Ruane"} ], "uin" : "212217"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101027", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101027/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Cabinet Office is working with other departments to make use of wellbeing evidence.<\/p>
The Cabinet Office recently announced the establishment of a What Works Centre for Wellbeing, with the aim of translating wellbeing evidence into guidance for decision makers within Whitehall and beyond. The Government outlined its approach in detailed evidence provided to the Environmental Audit Committee for its Inquiry into Wellbeing. This can be found at:<\/p>