§ 57. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take following the statement made in the annual report of the Alkali Inspector for England and Wales and Northern Ireland that there is a prospect of steadily worsening air pollution in Great Britain and that the prevention of pollution by sulphur dioxide, grit and dust and motor fumes should be given the highest priority.
§ Mr. MellishThe standards for control of industrial emissions are being constantly improved. Widespread research into the hitherto intractable problem of preventing sulphur dioxide emissions continues here and abroad. In the meantime my right hon. Friend will continue to rely on the dispersion of industrial emissions from tall chimneys to avoid undesirable concentrations near the ground. He will shortly be issuing guidance for local authorities and industry on the control of grit and dust, and he is urging local authorities to press on with domestic smoke control.
Pollution by motor fumes is primarily a matter for his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and he is in close touch with her about it.