§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many actions have been instituted under the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951, against factory owners on grounds of having caused rivers to be polluted.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe cost of obtaining this information would be disproportionate.
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§ Mr. Ormeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that 10 years is an appropriate period to allow new companies for meeting air pollution conditions imposed by the Alkali Inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNo such period is mentioned in the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act, 1906, nor has it ever formed part of the Alkali Inspectorate's policy Reports to the contrary are wrong.
§ Mr. Ormeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make available the information about air pollution standards agreed between the Alkali Inspectorate and companies owning industrial plants in Great Britain.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerA considerable amount of information on this subject has been published in the Annual Reports of the Chief Alkali Inspector from 1966 onwards. As I said in answer to the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 21st April, I am holding discussions with industry with a view to releasing more information to the public.—[Vol. 835, c.163.]
§ Mr. Ormeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whom he makes administratively responsible for taking air pollution readings at industrial premises: how these are checked; and how often they are taken.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerMeasurements are taken both by the Alkali Inspectors and by the managements of industrial premises. The latter make their readings available to the Inspectors. The frequency of these readings varies at different works according to current need, which is assessed in the light of prevailing conditions.
§ Mr. Ormeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions of companies for air pollution have now been brought by the Alkali Inspectorate since June, 1970.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerSix.
§ Mr. Ormeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the powers conferred under the 1906 Act are adequate to control air pol- 474W lution in Great Britain in 1972; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act, 1906, is not the only Act controlling air pollution. There are also the Clean Air Acts 1956 and 1968, together with the Public Health Acts. I am satisfied that these constitute an efficient code of control although I shall continue to keep their previsions under close observation in the light of current development.