HC Deb 11 May 1965 vol 712 cc256-7
23. Dr. Summerskill

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what financial assistance he is giving local authorities to expedite the implementation of the Clean Air Act; and whether the implementation of the Act is being slowed down by the short supply of smokeless fuels.

Mr. Mellish

My right hon. Friend pays grant to local authorities at the rate of four-sevenths of their expenditure on fireplace conversions in private houses in smoke control areas and two-fifths of their expenditure on conversions in their own houses. He has no evidence that progress is being slowed down by shortage of smokeless fuels.

Dr. Summerskill

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that, in my constituency of Halifax, the target date for clean air is as distant as 1977? Does not he agree that this delay, which is common to many towns in the industrial North, might be reduced if more financial assistance were given to local authorities?

Mr. Mellish

If there is any way in which we can help my hon. Friend's constituency we will do so. About 216,000 premises have been covered by smoke control orders in the last six months as against 175,000 in the previous six months, so there has been an improvement.

Mr. Wilkins

Will my hon. Friend treat this as a matter of urgency? Is not he aware that there now seems to be a substantial amount of evidence appearing to prove that air pollution is far more responsible for lung cancer than smoking?

Mr. Mellish

We are certainly agreed that clean air is a matter of urgency. As I said, if any hon. Members find difficulties in their localities we shall be pleased to discuss the matter and see what we can do.