§ 21. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action has been taken to ensure that during the summer months people living in North-West Kent will not be affected by the cement dust nuisance.
§ The Minister of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14th April.
§ Mr. DoddsIs the right hon. Gentleman claiming that, once the electrical precipitators are repaired, they do not break down again? Further, what about the cement kilns? Is every one in Kent that is not suitable for electrical precipitators to go out of action or how can he give such a confident reply?
§ Mr. MacmillanI do not know about the confidence of my reply. All I said was that I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 14th April. He must judge of its character when he refers to it. The point that perhaps he and the House will remember is that there are five of these dust precipitators which have gone out of action. Three have now been repaired and urgent work is going on on the other two.
§ Mr. DoddsBut in the answer to the Question referred to, the right hon. Gentleman said that when all were repaired everything would be quite all right in future. Is not that optimistic?
§ Mr. MacmillanIf the hon. Gentleman will read my reply he will see that I did not say that.