§ LORD PARGITERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the new low tolerances for emission of grit and dirt from industrial furnaces announced by the last Government in Command Paper 4373 are now to be introduced.]
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords. Regulations are expected to be made shortly.
§ LORD PARGITERMy Lords, may I ask whether the Government are satisfied, having regard to the difficulties in detecting emissions of grit and dirt, as distinct from smoke, that the local authorities have adequate staffs for these increased and much more onerous duties, and whether or not the alkali inspectorate of the Government Department is sufficiently staffed to be able to give effect properly to the regulations?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, as regards the Question now before the House this is a matter for the local authorities; but we shall have to see how we go. My advice at the moment is that the slaffs will be adequate. The question about the alkali inspectorate has more bearing on the first Question I answered. If the Order is made in the form originally intended it is quite likely that the alkali inspectorate may have to be increased.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he will re-read the debate in this House last week on industrial injuries, in order that the Government shall be seized with the urgency of this matter.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I am not sure of the connection at the moment, but I will certainly look at the debate.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, perhaps the noble Lord is not sure because I referred to "industrial injuries": I should have said "industrial injuries and diseases". It is the diseases that I want to emphasise. May I also ask him why he feels certain that he has enough inspectors, because what emerged from last week's debate was that there was a serious shortage of inspectors.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I thought I said (but perhaps I did not make it clear) that we expect that if, as a result of the inquiry, the Minister makes the first Order to which I was referring in answer to the noble Lord's first Question, it is more than likely that the alkali inspectorate will have to be increased.