AIR POLLUTION (Hansard, 19 March 1963)

§ Q1. Mr. F. Noel-Baker
asked the Prime Minister which Ministers are concerned with the various aspects of the problem of air pollution; and what steps he will now take to co-ordinate and accelerate the work of their respective Departments and to implement a policy to reduce the danger, dirt and waste caused by the high pollution in urban areas.

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)
The main responsibility rests with the Minister of Housing and Local Government in England and Wales and the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Minister for Science, the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Power are also concerned. All are pressing on with the vital work of reducing air pollution and I have no evidence that the present arrangements for co-ordination need review.

§ Mr. Noel-Baker
Can the Prime Minister say what is being done to speed up the implementation of the Clean Air Act, particularly in the North? Can he further say what is being done to accelerate research on the elimination of carbon-monoxide from petrol engines and of sulphur dioxide from industrial and domestic plant and also from diesel engines?

§ The Prime Minister
These are all separate points, and I do not want to take too long over my reply. Regarding the first, if the hon. Member will read 201 Command Paper "Smog Control, England and Wales, 1962–66" he will get the information there. Regarding diesel and petrol, these are questions for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and perhaps the hon. Member will put a Question specifically to him.

§ Mr. Lipton
Will the Prime Minister bear in mind the fact that it is very difficult to secure the proper implementation of the Clean Air Act so long as smokeless fuel is either not available or is too expensive for old-age pensioners to buy?

§ The Prime Minister
As the hon. Member knows, the Act is applied in many cities. I am told that the supply of fuel generally is satisfactory. If the hon. Gentleman has any particular case in mind, perhaps he will put a Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power.