§ 4. Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that serious difficulties continue to be experienced by residents in Leicester owing to the grit which is falling on their homes in consequence of emissions from the local power station; what steps have been taken and 218 are being taken to deal with this position in the future; and whether the Alkali Inspectorate have yet devised methods of overcoming this type of nuisance in Leicester and generally.
§ Mr. CorfieldMy right hon. Friend is not aware of any recent complaints. Additional precipitators and rectifiers are being installed and should be ready by October. The answer to the third part of the Question is "yes".
§ Sir B. JannerIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that this has been going on for years, that the air has been polluted, and that he promised that by the end of last year sufficient steps would have been taken to remove the nuisance or reduce it to a very small degree? Why is he waiting until October to do something which is really necessary in that neighbourhood, as it is in other neighbourhoods? Does he realise that in recent reports it has been stated that pollution of the air, which includes this kind of pollution, is responsible to a very considerable degree for cancer as well?
§ Mr. CorfieldThe hon. Gentleman knows quite well that I am not waiting until October. He will remember that I explained the problems to him in an Adjournment debate in July, and the modifications then outlined are running according to schedule. The fact that there has been an absence of complaints over the last few months shows that an improvement has already been effected.
§ Sir B. JannerOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.