§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD PARGITERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the new forms of air pollution listed by the last Government in Command Paper 4373 of May, 1970, as about to be brought under the control are now to be brought under control.
341§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)My Lords, what the previous Government said in Command 4373 they were about to do could not in fact have been done just like that. A public inquiry had first to be held; local authorities and others had to be consulted. The inquiry has now been held and the consultations have taken place. The report of the inspector is now awaited.
§ LORD PARGITERMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord when the Government propose to let the House know what they intend to do in the matter?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, when the inspector's report has been received the Minister will decide, in the light of that, whether he should proceed to make the Order and lay it before Parliament, and, if he decides to do so, whether he should first modify its present form or context in any respect.
§ LORD PARGITERMy Lords, could the Minister indicate when the report is expected?
§ LORD SANDFORDNo, my Lords, not precisely.
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, in respect of air pollution, may I ask my noble friend whether he will examine the case for siphoning off residual fuel aboard jet aircraft on the ground rather than, as at present, jettisoning it in the form of spray after take-off?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, that is quite another question.