§ LORD NEWTONMy Lords, I wish to ask His Majesty's Government when it is intended to introduce a Smoke Abatement Bill. In putting this Question may I observe that the Minister of Health—not the present Minister of Health but his unfortunate predecessor—gave me an undertaking that a Smoke Abatement Bill would be introduced early in the present Session, and there has been considerable disappointment on the part of people interested in this measure that the Bill has not yet made its appearance. My noble friend Lord Onslow is engaged in the laudable and praiseworthy attempt of conciliating divergent interests, and I have taken part myself in various conferences with regard to the measure. I would remind him that a Bill of this kind must be more or less contentious and that, however much you may desire to do so, it is practically impossible to reconcile all conflicting interests. On these grounds I hope that he will be able to give me an assurance that the Bill is going to be brought in at an early date. We have now arrived almost at the threshold of the concluding part of the Session, and unless it is brought forward very shortly I have little hope of it passing into law this Session.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, I will be very brief, but I hope I shall be able to satisfy my noble friend. The answer to the Question as to whether a Smoke Abatement Bill is to be brought in during this Session is in the affirmative, but I must tell the noble Lord that it is not proposed to introduce any clause which may be considered likely to hinder the revival of industry.
§ House adjourned during pleasure.
§ House resumed.