HC Deb 14 June 1977 vol 933 cc110-1W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department is prepared to give to track down obnoxious odours in industrial areas; if he is aware of the hardship caused to people in the Eccles, Swinton, Salford and Pendlebury area by industrial and other effluent coming from the Trafford Park area; if he will instruct his regional officers to do all they can to assist, since the excuses for such excess effluent and atmospheric pollution are often too easily accepted; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Marks

Local responsibility for dealing with air pollution problems arising from industrial activities rests with district councils and, in the case of works registered under the Alkali Acts, with Her Majesty's Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate. Regional water authorities have power to control the quality of effluent from sewage works and industrial premises. I am confident that the Trafford Borough Council, the North Western Water Authority and the relevant District Alkali and Clean Air Inspectors act as appropriate to control noxious or unpleasant emissions from industrial premises in the Trafford Park area.

Nationally, my Department is contributing to the reduction of nuisance from smells emitted from industrial premises through sponsorship of a three-year research programme into their prevention and abatement, which is being carried out at the Department of Industry's Warren Spring Laboratory and is also supported by a number of industrial concerns and local authorities, including Trafford Borough Council. The Warren Spring Laboratory also provides a service, for payment, to local authorities and industrial concerns which seek advice on how to tackle particular problems of odorous emissions.