Atmospheric Pollution (Control) (Hansard, 11 February 1958)

§ 17. Mr. Swingler
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the dissatisfaction of local authorities with the placing of control over atmospheric pollution in the hands of the already overburdened Alkali Inspectorate; and if he will reconsider the question of putting control over atmospheric pollution from tileries in the hands of local authority officers.

§ Mr. Bevins
My right hon. Friend is not aware of any proposal that responsibility for the control of air pollution in general should be transferred from local authorities to the Alkali Inspectorate. The Clean Air Act, 1956, has given local authorities additional powers and duties. The proposed extension of the Alkali Act relates only to a limited number of industrial works in which the prevention of air pollution presents special technical difficulties. This includes some tileries, but not all.

§ Mr. Swingler
Has the Parliamentary Secretary noted that on both sides of the House there is considerable opposition to this proposal to transfer this control to the Alkali Inspectorate, and that it is a poor tribute to the progress made in North Staffs that the pottery industry should be picked on as one of these cases? Will he, therefore, reconsider—relating specifically to the pottery industry—leaving the power in the hands of the local council?

§ Mr. Bevins
As the hon. Gentleman will understand, this flows from the recommendation made by the Beaver Committee, and it was, I think, accepted by my right hon. Friend. I should like to emphasise that, in the case of tile works, it is proposed only to schedule those in which coal or oil-fired intermittent kilns are used; that is to say, those that present the most intractable problems arising from smoke—only a limited number.

§ Mr. Mitchison
As the Alkali Inspectorate comes under his Ministry, is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that there are enough of these inspectors for this extended work, and has he taken steps to recruit any others?

§ Mr. Bevins
That does not quite arise from the Question, but, speaking from memory. I think that the present number is about twenty, and we are certainly in the process of enlisting the services of additional officers.