6. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if the strength of the Alkali Inspectorate is now up to establishment; and to what extent the regional offices are fully manned.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. F. V. Corfield)The district offices are adequately manned at present, but the effect of the recent Alkali Works Order is being closely watched. If and when necessary two additional inspectors will be recruited to bring the strength up to establishment.
Mr. SlaterIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that constant attention ought to be given to highly industrialised areas like Tees-side, where chemicals play a great part? The question of the obnoxious smells which prevail in these areas has often been raised in the House. 199 Does not the hon. Gentleman think constant attention should be paid to these areas so that when difficulty arises immediate action can be taken to deal with it?
§ Mr. CorfieldAs I told the hon. Gentleman, the matter is being very closely watched, but the Chief Alkali Inspector advises me that the Tees-side area has never been more free from complaint than it is at present, apart from the dust fall as Eston, about which no doubt the hon. Gentleman knows. The Inspectorate has continuing concern in this matter, but the solution depends to a large extent on technical progress, quite apart from the question of manpower.
Mr. SlaterIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, irrespective of what the Chief Alkali Inspector may say, protests are still coming in from the general public in the area that these obnoxious smells still prevail?