§ Sir J. Edenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities concerning the introduction of smokeless zones in those areas where there is a shortage of smokeless fuel.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonNone. My right hon. Friend requests local authorities, when they submit smoke control orders to him for confirmation, to furnish him with a statement from the Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation that adequate supplies of smokeless fuel will be obtainable in that area. In these statements the federation is not now guaranteeing adequate supplies for newly submitted areas before April, 1971. He has before him at present 62 orders for confirmation with operative dates spread over the period between now and April, 1971. Authorities have discretion to defer the operative date. In some places shortages of smokeless fuel may lead them to do so. There is no reason for my right hon. Friend to delay confirmation or advise local authorities to defer putting forward proposals.