HC Deb 30 November 1959 vol 614 cc104-6W
Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs which local authorities in North Staffordshire and Lancashire have not take action under the powers given to them by the Clean Air Act, 1956; and if he will provide a list of those local authorities who have not submitted five-year programmes.

Sir K. Joseph

The Act confers a variety of powers on local authorities most of which are exercisable without reference to me, and information in the form requested in the first part of the Question is not, therefore, available. The hon. Member may, however, like to know that 38 authorities in the area in question are actively engaged in establishing smoke control areas, and that 100 authorities have adopted the model building byelaw regulating the type of domestic appliance that can be installed in a new building.

The programmes referred to in the second part of the Question were requested only from authorities in the worst polluted areas. Some of the replies raise questions which it will be necessary to settle with the authorities concerned before a clear picture can be given. I am pressing on with this, but I should prefer to hold up for the time being the publication of a list as requested by the hon. Member, as at this stage I think that such a list might be rather misleading.

Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement on the lessons learnt in the administration of the Clean Air Act, 1956, and from research carried out since the Act was applied; and what further advice arising from that experience he now proposes to give to local authorities.

Sir K. Joseph

Experience gained in administering the Clean Air Act and the results of research are regularly reviewed by my right hon. Friend and by the Clean Air Council. The Department's Annual Report records each year developments in the aspects of this problem coming within the purview of my right hon. Friend. He will continue to give advice from time to time to local authorities whenever he thinks this would serve a useful purpose.

Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what special action has been taken under the Clean Air Act, 1956, to eliminate within a 50-mile radius of Manchester, all air pollution and especially sulphur pollution.

Sir K. Joseph

The powers of the Clean Air Act relate to smoke, grit and dust. My right hon. Friend has urged local authorities in black areas, including those covered by the hon. Member's Question, to use these powers vigorously and systematically. To date, 81 local authorities whose areas are within 50 miles of Manchester have made orders, or have provisionally notified their intention to make orders, to establish a total of 191 smoke control areas. In addition, there are in operation in this area 39 smokeless zones established under local Acts.

Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement on the extent to which the Clean Air Act, 1956, is being carried out in accordance with the principles set out on pages 10, 11 and 12 in the 1958 edition of the official memorandum on the industrial provisions of the Act; to what extent the electro-precipitation process is being applied in the chemical and allied industries, particularly within a 50-mile radius of Manchester: what other methods are in operation; and at what places.

Sir K. Joseph

As far as can be judged, local authorities have found the guidance in the memorandum useful, but it is for them to decide how to use their powers in individual cases and we have no detailed information. Electro-precipitation is widely used in the chemical and allied industry, including works in the area referred to by the hon. Member; other methods of arrestment in general use for dealing with particular types of emission include bag filtration, wet scrubbers and adsorption by activated carbon. It is not possible to list all the many places in which these various methods are employed.