§ MR. W. FOWLERasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, having regard to the fact that no means of a practicable character exist for consuming carbonic acid gas, he is prepared to insert words into Clause 8 of the Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Bill, exempting cement works from the operation of the Bill, so far as relates to the emission of this gas; and, whether he is aware that the passing of the Bill in its present form will have the effect of closing cement works; and, if he is prepared, before the Bill is proceeded with, to explain in detail in the Bill what are 282 the other gases emitted by cement works, and what minimum emission of each of those gases the Government is prepared to allow, having regard to the fact that it is impossible wholly to prevent these emissions?
§ MR. DODSONI am not prepared to exempt cement works from the Bill; for although no practical means may at present exist for consuming carbonic acid gas, I have no doubt that, in many instances, arrangements are capable of being made for regulating its emission so as to render it much less objectionable than at present. As the Bill simply requires the adoption of practicable and available precautions it is impossible to suppose that it will have the effect of closing cement works, although I have no doubt it will lead to a considerable abatement of the present nuisance—a nuisance which, in the words of the Royal Commission, is substantial, and which may be mitigated, if not avoided altogether. I cannot undertake to explain in detail in the Bill what are the other gases emitted by cement works, and what is the minimum emission the Government is prepared to allow, as this would be to place these works on a different footing from many others named in the Bill, and, as in the case of the alkali works, a test could only be prescribed after the experience acquired by careful inspection.