HL Deb 30 March 1954 vol 186 cc778-9

2.49 p.m.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the discharge of fumes from the Bankside power station is having any injurious effect upon St. Paul's Cathedral.]

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, the new Bankside power station is equipped with the most modern type of gas-washing plant. The performance of this plant has been under constant observation since it was put into operation last July, and a high degree of efficiency has been maintained in the extraction of sulphur dioxide from the flue gases. I am advised that there is no reason to think that the small amount which passes into the atmosphere from the new power station has any harmful effect on St. Paul's Cathedral. If, on the other hand, any evidence were advanced to the contrary, Her Majesty's Government would of course be prepared to undertake most immediate and searching investigations.

LORD DERWENT

While thanking the noble Lord for his very detailed reply, may I ask him whether he can give any indication as to the volume of the fumes given out by the new power station as compared with the volume of the fumes given out by the old power station?

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, I understand that the new Bankside power station gives out about 10 tons of fumes a month, compared with over 150 tons a month which were given out by old Bankside power station, which the new one was designed to replace.

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that his answer will give great satisfaction in many quarters, including the quarter which is at the moment putting the question to him? Is he further aware that I have been the victim of savage attacks in a number of newspapers over the effect of these fumes on St. Paul's, and can he take any steps to ensure that his answer receives at least as much publicity in the Press as the original attacks received?

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, I am afraid I have no means at my disposal of ensuring that the publicity given to my Answer is equal to that given to the attacks on the noble Lord, Lord Silkin. If it is any comfort to him, I can assure him that I think the attacks made on him are quite unjustified.