HC Deb 10 June 1947 vol 438 cc841-3
2. Sir Arthur Salter

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has received authoritative expert evidence as to the elimination of sulphur fumes from the proposed oil-fired Bank-side generating station; and whether he will publish his evidence.

3 and 4. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Minister of Town, and Country Planning (1) what steps he is taking to satisfy himself that no noise and sulphur or other noxious fumes will be given out by the proposed electricity generating station on Bankside;

(2) what reports he has received on the possibility of eliminating sulphur and other noxious fumes emanating from oil-fired electricity generating stations; and if he will make a statement thereon.

Mr. Silkin

I am satisfied from the advice I have received that sulphur and other noxious fumes can be eliminated. In order to ensure that the design of the plant to be installed is satisfactory, a pilot gas-washing plant is to be constructed, and, when the results of this are available, the Electricity Commissioners will consult with my right hon. Friends, the Ministers of Health and of Works. I shall keep in touch with these discussions. As regards noise, the Electricity Commissioners imposed a condition in giving their formal consent that the undertakers shall provide efficient methods for ensuring the avoidance of noise, and I have no reason to think that any difficulty will arise.

Sir A. Salter

May I ask the Minister whether he will ensure that no action compromising a final decision is taken until the public have had an opportunity of considering the expert evidence which he says is now before him?

Mr. Silkin

But the decision has been given. I am required to give a decision as the result of the public inquiry which was held, and I have given it.

Sir A. Salter

Will the Minister see that the public have the evidence so that other expert opinion can express itself?

Mr. Silkin

I cannot give any undertaking to publish the advice which I have received.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Was not the decision to go ahead made conditional on the Minister being satisfied that sulphur and other noxious fumes could specifically be eliminated?

Mr. Silkin

Well, I am satisfied.

Mr. Bossom

Is the Minister aware that there is no plant in the world that is using this low-grade oil fuel which does not give off noxious fumes; is he further aware that, when Sir Christopher Wren built St. Paul's Cathedral, he made great efforts to get good stones there; and is the Minister going to wreck St. Paul's Cathedral by not preventing these fumes from coming across the river?

Mr. Silkin

I am satisfied that these fumes will in no way wreck St Paul's Cathedral.

Mr. Hobson

Will the fumes from the Bankside power station be subject to the Public Health Act, and, if the answer is in the affirmative, is the Minister aware that, as long as steps are taken to mitigate the nuisance, that Act is being complied with?

Mr. Silkin

Of course, they are subject to the Public Health Act.

Mr. Wilson Harris

Is the Minister aware that it was stated in another place that it will take six months to prove whether the noxious fumes can be eliminated or not? is that experiment to be carried out, and will the main enterprise be held up until it is carried out?

Mr. Silkin

I am satisfied, as a result of the advice I have received, that sulphur fumes can be eliminated.

Mr. Keeling

Has the Minister investigated the suggestion that the extra cost of burning oil, together with the cost of eliminating the sulphur fumes, would far exceed the cost of bringing mains from a point downstream, where the power station would be unobjectionable?

Mr. Silkin

No, I have not, and it is not my business. All I had to do was to consider a specific application, which I did.

Mr. Speaker

We have already had one Adjournment Debate on this matter, and we cannot debate it all again at Question time.