35. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the appreciable improvement in the health of urban 1049 populations at the present time, attributable by many medical authorities to the purer condition of the atmosphere due to reduced coal consumption; and has he considered the possibility of securing these same health advantages by means of measures for smoke abatement when coal consumption again becomes normal?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Alfred Mond)The time during which the consumption of coal has been reduced has not been sufficient for the confirmation or contradiction of the suggestion in the first part of the question. The whole question of the pollution of the atmosphere by smoke and other noxious vapours is receiving the consideration of a Departmental Committee under the Chairmanship of Lord Newton. I have no doubt that the Committee are fully conversant with the aspects of the problem to which the hon. Member refers.