§ 20. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received any reports or complaints from navigators and pilots of the danger to Thames shipping caused by the heavy pall of acrid smoke arising from the refuse dumps at South Hornchurch; whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the danger alleged as due to this cause; and whether he will confer with the Minister of Health and the local authorities concerned to remedy the trouble at its source?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHI have received no direct complaints of the nature referred to from navigators and pilots, but I understand that representations have been made by the Port of London Authority, including evidence by Thames pilots, to the Departmental Committee which is considering the whole question of the collection and disposal of London refuse.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEWill the hon. Gentleman take some action in order to prevent a recurrence of those conditions which have previously occurred, without waiting for further evidence to be gathered?
§ Mr. SMITHAs I say, a Departmental Committee is inquiring into the matter, and I think they ought to be left to carry out their investigations.