NORTH WEST MEP BLASTS BOGUS BAGPIPE BAN CLAIM

2.23.57pm GMT Thu 22nd Dec 2005

Claims that Brussels bureaucrats are set to curb New Year Hogmanay

celebrations by bringing in a bagpipe ban have been dismissed as a lot of

hot air by a North West Euro-MP.

Chris Davies says that tabloid tales about bagpipes facing the axe under new

EU rules to slash noise pollution are way off tune.

New European health rules require employers to take measures to provide ear

protection for workers exposed to noise levels louder than 87 decibels for

more than 8 hours at a time.

Although they will apply to the entertainment industry from 2008, the

Liberal Democrat MEP insists that they are intended to stop people's hearing

being damaged by loud industrial machinery not to stop the scurl of

bagpipes.

He said: "I don't believe that anyone in North West has ever been forced to

listen to the drone of bagpipes played for more than 8 hours in an enclosed

space. Bagpipe lovers across Britain can be confident that Brussels isn't

trying to curb 'normal' enjoyment."

Opinion polls suggesting that the British are the least well informed people

in Europe about how EU decisions are made. Chris Davies says that he wants

to highlight the extent to which this is due to people here being presented

with myths about the European Union which distort the reality.

He said: "Nations with the same values work together in the EU to find

shared solutions to the common problems we face. The issues can be

complicated enough without some newspapers talking nonsense."

"Our tabloid editors should raise a glass at midnight next Saturday and

declare a New Year resolution to stop making up myths about Europe."