§ 79. Sir P. Harrisasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it is computed that when fog conditions prevail London grime pollutes the atmosphere over an area of 5,000 square miles; whether he will consider promoting legislation transferring powers to deal with this nuisance from the smaller authorities to the county councils, so that more drastic and scientific methods on a large scale may be used to deal with this danger to health; and whether any estimate has been made of the financial losses to industry by the delays in traffic and shipping as well as by the direct damage to buildings and property caused by London fog?
§ Sir K. WoodI have seen such a computation in the Press. As regards the second part of the question, there is already power for local authorities to combine so that they may work on a larger scale and obtain scientific knowledge and advice, and for transferring to the county council the functions of a local authority in default. So far as I am aware, no authoritative estimate such as is referred to in the last part of the question has been made.
§ Sir P. HarrisWill the right hon. Gentleman, as the Minister responsible for the health of the country, bring his influence to bear on local authorities to get them to combine, and, where necessary, to transfer some of their powers to the county council? Were not the conditions last week a disgrace to London and to his Department, which is responsible for the health of the people?
§ Sir K. WoodI thoroughly agree with the hon. Member. It may interest him to know that a meeting of the local authorities in Greater London has been called early in the New Year by the National Smoke Abatement Society at the London County Hall to consider the formation of a smoke abatement committee for London.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is impossible to deal with this question in London or elsewhere until we have a scientific method of treating coal?
§ Sir K. WoodI do not dissent from that view.
Vice-Admiral TaylorWill the right hon. Gentleman use his persuasive powers to make it compulsory to use smokeless fuel in towns over a certain population?
§ Sir K. WoodI should have to consider whether my hon. and gallant Friend would oppose such a proposal.
§ Mr. MacquistenIs it not the case that in the time of Edward I people who used raw coal were summoned and fined?
§ 88. Sir N. Grattan-Doyleasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a great part of rural England is within the pollution zones of industrial centres on the occasion of the dispersion of fog over those centres; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the means of reducing the air pollution of industrial districts?
§ Sir K. WoodI am aware that atmospheric pollution may extend some distance from the source. Apart from work on the problem by industries themselves, and by my alkali inspectors, investigations into the causes, extent and means of reducing atmospheric pollution are being carried out by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.