§ 87. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the progress of smoke control orders, and on what further help he will give to speed up the clean air programme in the areas most severely affected.
§ Mr. MellishUp to mid-December local authorities in England had made 1,771 orders covering over 2,320,000 premises. In the last 18 months progress in most, but not all, parts of the country has fallen off, and my right hon. Friend is anxious that momentum should be regained as soon as possible. Proposals for making better progress by simplifying procedure will be put to the local authority associations almost immediately.