Smoke Control Programmes

HC Deb 19 November 1963 vol 684 cc790-2

21. Mrs. Butler

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities have decided to curtail their smoke control programmes because of the uncertainty of supplies of adequate and reasonably priced smokeless fuels.

Mr. Corfield

My right hon. Friend knows that some local authorities areworried about smokeless fuels. He hopes, however, that before coming to any decision about their smoke control programmes they will await the statement he expects to make soon.

Mrs. Butler

Is it not most unsatisfactory that the inability of the Minister to guarantee adequate supplies of reasonably priced, good smokeless fuel is holding up some local authority smoke control programmes? Since we are already in the smog season and the ending of this atmospheric pollution is vital, will the Minister speed upthis review and deal with it as a matter of extreme urgency?

Mr. Corfield

Yes, of course, we regard it as urgent. We must, however, consult the local authority associations and the Clean Air Council, as in other matters. But any question of guaranteeing fuel is not a matter for my right hon. Friend. All I can tell the hon. Lady at the moment is that the conclusions are that we shall have to make increased use of appliances such as stoves and under-floor draught fires using other forms of fuel.

Sir K. Thompson

Is not my hon. Friend aware that the Liverpool local authority, for example, alleges that it is being held up in the development of its smokeless zone proposals because of inadequacy of fuel supplies and is receiving no encouragement whatever from my right hon. Friend's Department?

Mr. Corfield

If my hon. Friend will write to me about that, I will look into it. Certainly, Liverpool is not one of the few local authorities whose names I have been given as being worried on this score.

Sir G. Nabarro

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is eight years since we were promised the Bronowski bullets by the Coal Board and that millions of £s of public money have been poured into the Coal Board to produce premium smokeless fuels? Should not my hon. Friendrefer this entire matter to the Minister of Power with a request to kick the pants of the Chairman of the Coal Board?

Mr. Corfield

I know of nobody better than my hon. Friend for kicking pants. I will leave it to him.