Eurosceptics fail to silence West Midlands organs

12.00.00am GMT Fri 24th Mar 2006

Contrary to reports, traditional church organs in the West Midlands will not be silenced by new EU legislation, a local Euro MP said today.

Liz Lynne, Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands, has welcomed a categorical assurance from the European Commission that new 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 there is no threat to church organs.

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

Criticising the recent spate of 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."

Liz Lynne, who has been working on this issue on behalf of several constituents, today said:

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

"Eurosceptics should pipe down and stop bellowing such ill-informed nonsense."

ENDS