HC Deb 16 December 1958 vol 597 cc923-7
5. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement on the smoke and sulphur dioxide content of the air in Salford during the November fogs and what effects it has had or is estimated to have on people suffering from chest complaints.

Mr. Bevins

My right hon. Friend is informed that daily measurements taken by the local authority during November showed high levels of smoke and sulphur in the area. I am advised that the amount of sickness in Salford during November showed the normal upward seasonal trend. Figures were lower than in November, 1957. and there were no sudden increases associated with fog.

Mr. Allaun

Is the Minister aware that the bronchitis death-rate in Salford is double the national average and that there are 1,200 chronic bronchitis cases in the city? Does he feel that the present measures are good enough?

Mr. J. T. Price

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in attempting to deal with the matter of the obnoxious fumes being emitted from the factory at Salford he ought to look at a map? Salford is a very long way from the factory; I happen to live within the orbit of the fumes.

Mr. Bevins

I think the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question relates to the next Question.

What the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) says is no doubt true, and it serves to emphasise the importance of the clean air policy being made effective both by local authorities and the Government.

Dr. Summerskill

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when the matter is brought to the notice of the Minister of Health and he is told that the high incidence of chronic bronchitis in Lancashire is related to polluted air, he always refers us to the Minister of Housing and Local Government? Will he tell the House what measures he has taken to ensure that the Clean Air Act is implemented?

Mr. Bevins

We have a number of Questions subsequently on which, perhaps, I might take the opportunity to give that information.

6. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the fears of neighbouring local authorities of chemical pollution from the chimney planned at Petrochemicals Limited, Carrington, which would emit over 36 tons of sulphur dioxide daily; and what action he proposes to take following the recent inquiry.

Mr. Bevins

I understand that the neighbouring local authorities expressed their views at the recent inquiry. The report of the inspector who conducted the inquiry will be ready soon, and my right hon. Friend will study it carefully before reaching his decision.

Mr. Allaun

Since at the inquiry one medical officer of health has stated that we must reduce pollution if we are to avoid the danger of a disaster such as the 1952 disaster in London when 4,000 people were killed, does the hon. Gentleman think that the Clean Air Act and the proposals to increase the alkali inspectorate are being implemented quickly enough? Also, will he ensure that in future inspection of works of this kind takes place at night, since I am informed that many works carry out their most dangerous practices at night and thus avoid detection?

Mr. Bevins

In reply to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I will certainly see what we can do in that respect. With regard to the first part, there has been a striking increase in the number of schemes for smoke controlled areas which has been submitted to my right hon. Friend during the last few months. Perhaps I might be allowed to say that we are currently pressing all local authorities to get on with this job more rapidly than at present.

18. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what reports he has received of the amount of sulphur dioxide and smoke content in the air in the City of Stoke-on-Trent during the recent fog periods; what was the amount and effect of other forms of air pollution; and if he is satisfied with the progress made since the Clean Air Act. 1956, came into operation.

Mr. Bevins

My right hon. Friend has as yet received no reports of the amount of pollution in the air of the city during recent weeks, but he is informed that during November there was nothing abnormal about the increase of illness or the number of deaths. A start is being made in reducing air pollution in the city. Four smoke control areas are under discussion and the difficult problems of industrial pollution are under active investigation.

Mr. Smith

While appreciating the work which has been done by enlightened manufacturers who have modernised equipment and cut out pollution, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is a minority about whom action should have been taken long ago? Since the Act has been in operation for so long, is it not time that this was treated as a matter of urgency?

Mr. Bevins

I assure the hon. Gentleman that this is being treated as a matter of serious urgency by the alkali inspectorate, particularly in Stoke-on-Trent.

21. Mr. E. L. Mallalieu

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if the pollution of the air at Scunthorpe by the emission of fine iron-oxide dust from the steel works has been brought to his attention; if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Alkali Order, 1958, are being complied with; if he is satisfied that all practical means are being adopted to abate the nuisance and injury to health which this emission causes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bevins

My right hon. Friend is aware of this difficulty. In pursuance of the 1958 Order it is the duty of his alkali inspectors to ensure that the hest practicable means to control the emissions are found and used, and they are energetically pursuing this problem. I am afraid, however, that no easy or immediate solution is likely.

Mr. Mallalieu

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this difficulty has increased by 100 per cent. in the last four years and that the pollution of the air in Scunthorpe itself is far worse than in the surrounding districts, as shown by the incidence of respiratory diseases? In view of the expense which will obviously have to be undertaken to overcome this difficulty, is it not time that the Government themselves took steps to help to overcome the expense? Is it not indecent in the circumstances that the present controllers of the steel works, who spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on anti nationalisation propaganda, do not even take the trouble to safeguard the health of the workers and their families?

Mr. Bevins

The Question has nothing to do with propaganda; it refers to the Clean Air Act and related matters. These responsibilities only came under the national alkali inspectorate in the current year, and at both national and local level we are doing all we conceivably can to improve the position.

Dr. Summerskill

As the hon. Gentleman has given similar Answers to all Questions on air pollution this afternoon. will he tell the House exactly what he means by "taking action"? What has he done? What is the form of the letters he has written? What does he do in the way of visiting local authorities?

Mr. Bevins

I have given similiar Answers because the Questions themselves have been similar. Since these responsibilities came under the direction of the alkali inspectorate, we have strenthened the inspectorate and we are making more frequent visits to factories scheduled under the Alkali Act. We are also engaged in discussions at national level with trade associations to try to improve matters quickly.