Air Pollution (Hansard, 12 July 1978)

§ 15. Mr. Forman
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further policy initiatives his Department proposes to take progressively to reduce the levels of air pollution in urban areas, especially London.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
In conjunction with the Clean Air Council, we are constantly looking at ways of progressively reducing the levels of air pollution, with the needs of urban areas particularly in mind. We are considering the proposals of the fifth report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, including those for air quality guidelines, and for new powers for local authority control of industry. A thorough review of monitoring is in hand and we have a continuing programme of research into air pollution problems.

§ Mr. Forman
Is the Minister aware that that answer does not go far enough in relation to this serious problem? Is his Department aware of the report from the GLC some time ago which showed that air pollution levels on many London streets are now at least double the recommended levels of the World Health Organisation? In view of the fact that the Clean Air Act 1956 covers only air pollution from fixed sources, such as factories and domestic premises, will the Minister consider legislation to see that it is extended to motor vehicles, which are the real source of the problem?

§ Mr. Howell
I am well aware that this problem is associated with the intake of lead into the system—

§ Mr. Forman
And smoke.

§ Mr. Howell
Yes, I know, but it also involves lead. As the hon. Gentleman will know, we have a staged programme, in partnership with the EEC, to bring down the lead content in petrol. I can tell the House that we have just agreed to finance three further research projects on atmospheric pollution, at a cost of £150,000. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we take the matter as seriously as he does. Furthermore, the Control of Pollution Act, when fully implemented, will enable local authorities to have further control of the whole range of these problems.

§ Mr. Hooley
I very much welcome my right hon. Friend's announcement about these new research projects and their funding, but does he agree that it is well established that the lead level in petrol is a serious air pollutant and a serious contributor to the hazards of lead poisoning? Why cannot we speed up the process of coming into line with our European neighbours, who have long accepted a lower level of lead in petrol than we are prepared to accept?

§ Mr. Howell
That is not quite true. We have fully accepted—this has been debated in the House—the EEC programme. I think that there have been two reductions in the content of lead in petrol during the life of this Government, and we are committed to at least one or two more, certainly to be in line with our European partners. But we cannot do it overnight. We have to serve adequate notice on industry, and there are also balance of payments considerations to be borne in mind.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
Is the Minister aware that in recent years the Royal Commission has not had the impact upon public opinion which perhaps it should have? Will he ask his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, when considering the future membership of that Commission, to try to find people from outside who are good at communicating the views of the Royal Commission, instead of just experts?

§ Mr. Howell
I do not accept that at all. I think that the Flowers Commission has had an enormous impact on public opinion generally over a whole range of problems.