§ 79 and 80. Mr. E. Smithasked the Minister of Health (1) whether his Department accepts the advice of the chief inspectors for dealing with the problem of smoke; and, if so, whether any steps have been taken to set up the suggested joint committee of the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyne Corporations, as on page 14 of the seventy-third annual report by the chief inspectors, and to secure the employment of competent inspectors;
(2) whether his attention has been directed to pages 13 and 14 of the seventy-third annual report on Alkali, etc., Works, by the chief inspectors; and what steps are being taken, or are proposed, to put into effect the advice of the inspector?
§ The Minister of Health (Sir Kingsley Wood)In accordance with the usual practice the suggestions made in the Chief Alkali Inspector's report for dealing with the smoke problem in The Potteries have been followed up. The 1263 two corporations referred to, while they have not as yet seen their way to form a joint committee, have decided to adopt an active policy, and one of them has in fact instituted proceedings in a particular case. The technical suggestions in the report have been communicated to the corporations and to the research association of the industry who are investigating the matter.