82. Mr. Keelinģasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware of the fears felt for the effect on Thames amenities of the power station now under construction on the river bank at Kingston; and whether he will arrange for a public inquiry to be held into the possibility of mitigating damage to such amenities by improving the elevations, altering the method of delivering fuel, and adopting the most efficient method of preventing the discharge of smoke, grit and sulphur into the air of Surrey and Middlesex.
§ The Minister of Town and Country Planning (Mr. Silkin)I am aware that there is some anxiety about this matter. The power station is now being erected in pursuance of an approval given by the Electricity Commission in 1941, and I have no power to hold a local inquiry into the project as a whole, though I could hold an inquiry into certain extensions which are contemplated. I do not, however, consider that there would be advantage in this since the need to protect amenity is appreciated by all the authorities concerned. Conditions were, in fact, imposed by the Commission to secure that so far as reasonably practicable there should be no injury to amenity; and I am arranging for officers of my Department to confer with those of the Ministry of Fuel and Power and the Electricity Commission in regard to practicable steps to be taken with this object.
Mr. KeelinģMay I ask the Minister whether he would consider submitting the elevations to the Royal Fine Arts Commission?
§ Mr. SilkinI will certainly consider that, in so far as I have the power.