§ 25. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to impress on local authorities the need for using fully the powers conferred on them by the Clean Air Act.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneMy right hon. Friend wrote at the end of June to the local authorities of the areas in which smoke pollution is worst to urge faster progress with the setting up of smoke control areas and to ask them to let him have by 31st December their proposals for the next five years.
§ Mr. RankinThis year?
§ Mr. BrowneYes, Sir.
§ Mr. RankinHow does the Minister know that he will be able to make use of them? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a widespread feeling that the Clean Air Council is not using sufficiently the powers conferred on it by the Clean Air Act; that his right hon. Friend might ginger up the Council a little more than he is doing in view of the great damage caused by fog, and that the Council should not be concentrating on particular areas but, for example, should regard the whole Clyde area as one district to be dealt with? One only needs to remember, as an example, that B.E.A. lost £350,000 last winter because of the ravages of fog.
§ Mr. BrowneIt is up to the local authority to decide its smoke control area. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that we are not satisfied with the progress made, and for that reason my right hon. Friend has written to councils, as the hon. Gentleman suggested, gingering them up.