§ 23. Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by black area authorities in reviewing their smoke control programmes, in response to Circular 53/71.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsProgress will be indicated by a rise in the figures for smoke control orders submitted for approval, but it is too early to look for this yet.
§ Mr. HaselhurstNow that the shortage of smokeless fuel, which the Government inherited from their predecessors, has been overcome, is my hon. Friend satisfied that there are not some local authorities which are dragging their feet, and, if there be any, what steps does he propose to take in relation to them?
§ Mr. GriffithsI am glad that the quite unnecessary shortage of solid smokeless fuel has now been overcome. We have recently passed the 5 million mark in the number of premises covered by smoke control, and there is no reason why any local authority should not now quickly come forward with new orders. Our policy in this matter is, "Full speed ahead".
§ Mr. McManusHas the Minister any plans to rid large parts of Belfast and Derry of the serious and dangerous pollution caused by constant, insistent and unjustified overuse of CS gas?
§ Mr. GriffithsI am sure that the whole House would be anxious that the hon. Gentleman should join with all other hon. Members in seeking quickly to achieve that end.
Mr. Bob BrownIs the hon. Gentleman aware that prior to 1967 the Labour-controlled local authority of Newcastle had plans to complete smoke control orders for the whole city by the 1724 end of 1970, but that the incoming Tory council so much slashed the programme that we shall be lucky if we have a smoke-free city in 15 years? Will the hon. Gentleman use his endeavours to jog the Tory council to do something about it?
§ Mr. GriffithsIt is typical of right hon. and hon. Members opposite that they should proclaim their desire to go smokeless and then create a shortage of smokeless fuel so that their own local authorities cannot show progress.