European Commission fails to silence Rochdale church organs

Date published: 24/03/2006

All is 'Bright and Beautiful' for Rochdale church organs with the news they can continue to bellow out hymns for evermore.

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies has welcomed a categorical assurance from the European Commission that new EU laws designed to curb the use of lead will not affect church organs.

Organ manufacturers had feared that the ROHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances) Directive would lead to the banning of lead in organ pipes as well as many electrical components.

But Margot Wallström, Vice President of the European Commission, has told MEPs that people in the UK can fill their churches with as many leaded pipes as they want.

She told the European Parliament:  "You can rest absolutely assured that the directive does not cover church organ pipes."

In a cry of frustration against media scare stories the Commissioner urged MEPs to "just make sure that now and then the poor people in the UK hear the truth, as they rarely receive correct information."

Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies worked with Mrs Wallström during her time as Environment Commissioner and said:

"Once again measures intended to protect human health and safeguard the environment have been twisted and distorted."

"The eurosceptics should pipe down and stop bellowing such ill-informed nonsense," he added.