HC Deb 18 November 1969 vol 791 cc1098-100
20. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning when he expects to publish a plan to combat environmental pollution.

27. Mr. St. John-Stevas

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what plans he has to protect the environment against pollution.

The Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (Mr. Anthony Crosland)

There exist already extensive arrangements in this country for dealing with the various forms of pollution. But, as the Prime Minister has announced to the House, I am now reviewing the whole machinery.

Mr. Dalyell

In this review of machinery will the Secretary of State set out what he considers are the financial priorities in the battle against pollution?

Mr. Crosland

If this turns out to be possible, but it is not very easy to set these priorities down in some simple order. When one is considering air pollution versus river pollution versus oil pollution on the beaches, it is not a simple matter to say that they should be put in a certain order, one, two, three. But, subject to that difficulty I should like to get a sense of priority.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Would the right hon. Gentleman direct his mind to the problem raised by sulphur dioxide pollution in the air? I understand that this is increasing as the smoke nuisance is going down. Is he aware that it not only erodes buildings but also irritates the lungs and aggravates chest diseases?

Mr. Crosland

The whole object of this review is to try to establish whether the existing controls are adequate, whether there are any obvious gaps in these controls, and whether we have sufficient resources at our disposal for trying to foresee future pollution dangers in time to do something about them.

Mr. Blackburn

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that it is with his Ministry that we must take up this question of pollution of the atmosphere by exhaust fumes?

Mr. Crosland

No, Sir. There are a number of Ministers with statutory responsibilities, housing, transport, agriculture and trade. It will remain their task to carry out their statutory responsibilities under existing laws. It is my task to try to decide whether the entire central machinery for dealing with existing, or as I would hope future, pollution problems is adequate.

Sir D. Renton

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that prevention of pollution will become more difficult as the country becomes further urbanised and more over-populated?

Mr. Crosland

Yes, Sir. I have no doubt at all that with the growth both of population and of general mechanisation the pollution problem will become steadily worse, unless we for our part increase our measures for coping with it.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

What consultations has the right hon. Gentleman had on this with the Secretary of State for Scotland, as foreshadowed by the Prime Minister in his statement of 13th October?

Mr. Crosland

As usual, continuous.