§ 6. Mr. Fletcher-Cookeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to enable him to make grants to householders wishing to install smokeless appliances whether or not their properties are included in smoke control areas.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonNo, Sir. Payment of grant in these circumstances might be abortive.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeWas this not one of the strong recommendations of the Hunt Report on intermediate areas? Is the hon. Gentleman saying that the report was wrong to make such a recommendation?
§ Mr. SkeffingtonI am saying that the payment of grants now makes a legal requirement on the recipient to burn smokeless fuel, but if the grant were paid in areas where there has been no order, there would be no guarantee that the fuel to be used in future would be smokeless fuel. The advantage to the individual who did not carry out a conversion to smokeless fuel would be very noticeable.
§ Mr. George JegerIs my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable difficulty in designated smoke control areas in getting smokeless fuels, and that a number of local authorities are clamouring to have their orders suspended until more supplies of smokeless fuel are available?
§ Mr. SkeffingtonI am aware that there are difficulties.
§ Mr. ChatawayIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the speed of progress being made outside London?
§ Mr. SkeffingtonOn the whole, yes. We have reviewed the matter from time to time and encourage conversion and the institution of orders wherever possible.