National Environmental Research (Hansard, 11 November 1969)

§ 20. Mr. Oakes
asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning if he will take steps to establish a National Environmental Research Unit to investigate all major cases of environmental imbalance which may be the result of pollution.

§ 24. Mrs. Joyce Butler
asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what examination he has made of Natural Environmental Research machinery following the recent deaths of sea-birds; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (Mr. Anthony Crosland)
The Government already have the advice of the Natural Environment Research Council, which is the main co-ordinating body for research in this field. But, as the Prime Minister has announced, I am reviewing the whole machinery for dealing with environmental pollution.

§ Mr. Oakes
Would not my right hon. Friend agree that this will be an increasingly urgent and important problem for this country? Would he set up a unit of scientists who could act speedily and promptly with co-ordinated activities when something occurred, such as the disaster to sea-birds a short time ago?

§ Mr. Crosland
I certainly think that this is a problem of the greatest urgency and importance, but I remind my hon. Friend that in this country we have probably gone further in the successful control of pollution than has any other country. I must ask my hon. Friend to await the result of my review of what kind of organisation is necessary.

§ Mr. Chataway
Has the Secretary of State seen the disturbing findings of the Consumer Association about the exhaust from motor cars? Is he satisfied with what appeared to be the rather complacent dismissal of those findings by the Minister of Transport?

§ Mr. Crosland
My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is anything but complacent, and I certainly cannotaccept that. I have read the findings with great interest. This is a specific and technical problem, and it is one of thethings to which my right hon. Friend will be paying great attention.