HC Deb 10 November 1959 vol 613 cc193-5
37 and 38. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if he will make a statement giving details of the progress being made under the Clean Air Act to deal with air pollution; and how long he anticipates it will take before the Act becomes fully effective;

(2) the number of smoke control areas in operation at the latest convenient date; how many local authorities have submitted smoke control programmes; and how many have not yet done so.

41. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent local authorities have used their powers under Section 11 of the Clean Air Act, 1956, to declare smoke control areas; by what date he expects the Act will be in full operation; whether he is satisfied that local authorities are treating this problem as a matter of urgency; whether he is satisfied with the working of the Act regarding the declaration of smokeless zones; and what proposals he has, by way of amending legislation, to ensure that the provisions of the Act relating to smoke control areas are implemented to the maximum extent possible.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Sir Keith Joseph)

The Clean Air Act is now fully operative. The effectiveness of the various measures taken under it will be cumulative. The powers given to local authorities to create smoke control areas are adequate, but my right hon. Friend would like them even more widely used. In England and Wales 104 smoke control orders were in operation at the end of October, 69 others had been confirmed, and a further 59 had been submitted for confirmation. We have been notified provisionally of yet a further 202 schemes. Smokeless zones can be established only under local Acts. Out of some 300 local authorities in the black areas, 183 have so far submitted five-year programmes.

Mr. Dodds

I congratulate the Minister on achieving his ambition to speak from the Box, and I wish him well. However, is he satisfied with the progress that has been made? Is not it a fact that many local authorities are holding back largely because of the trouble involved in getting suitable smokeless fuels? What are the Government doing in this respect? When is action really to be taken against excessive diesel fumes from vehicles? I travelled from Dart-ford this afternoon and I was appalled to see some of the smoke that came from diesel vehicles.

Sir K. Joseph

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his personal courtesy to me. Many local authorities have achieved what can only be described as satisfactory progress, bearing in mind that the Beaver Committee spoke of probably ten to fifteen years being needed to achieve clean air throughout the black areas. There are many problems in achieving clean air. Some local authorities dispute that they are in black areas. Some have concessionary coal problems. My right hon. Friend is considering all these and other reasons, and how best to achieve progress. There is no evidence that smokeless fuel is a cause of delay. As for diesel oil, that is another question.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Will the Parliamentary Secretary consult his right hon. Friend the Minister with a view to giving instructions to the Ministry that this matter should at last be treated as one of extreme urgency? Is he aware that in this country more people suffer from bronchitis through this than in any other country? Is he also aware that in the great centre of population between Stoke, Manchester and Salford there is more suffering than in any other part of the country? Is it not time that this matter was treated with the sense of urgency that it deserves?

Sir K. Joseph

My right hon. Friend is extremely keen on making this country free from air pollution as quickly as possible. In my short time in the Department I have found universal keenness to help to achieve this end, but local authorities have the main responsibility in this field. The hon. Gentleman will know from experience in his own area that there is much to be done by local authorities in many parts of the country.