MP Wins Commitment On Pipe Organ Protection

Leeds pipe organ makers will receive Government protection from a new EU directive, following a campaign led by John Battle, MP for Leeds West. The EU had threatened to ban the use of lead in the construction of pipe organs – a move which would have had a disastrous impact on manufacturers in Leeds. But now Mr Battle has secured a commitment from the Government that it will step in to negotiate an exemption from the directive for the lead used in pipe organ making.

In a letter to John Battle, Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (until the recent reshuffle), gave assurances that a formal application would be made for an exemption – and that the repair and refurbishment of existing pipe organs would not be affected by the directive. John Battle had been pushing for Government action on the issue, having signed a parliamentary motion expressing grave concern at the threat to pipe organ manufacturing.

John Battle said: “I am delighted that we have been able to persuade the Government to intervene in this case. The only two surviving independent makers of church organ pipes in Britain are both in Leeds – and a number of jobs would have been at risk if the directive in its original form had gone through. Common sense has won out in the end over this.”

© John Battle MP 10 May 2006