HC Deb 18 July 1978 vol 954 c181W
Mr. Sainsbury

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of urban residential areas are subject to smoke control orders.

Mr. Denis Howell

The information is not readily available in the precise form requested. English local authorities have achieved 66 per cent. of their self-imposed smoke control targets which cover most larger towns and conurbation areas. These targets include a number of areas not categorised as "black" areas particularly in need of control by the Committee on Air Pollution (Beaver Committee) in 1953 (Cmnd. 9011). In total, 7,804,000 premises have been covered. Smoke control would not he appropriate in many small towns where

Number of mortgages granted by building societies Total amount advanced by building societies in constant 1970 prices
'000s £ million
January 1945-December 1951 1,732 3,762
January 1952-December 1964 4,658 9,810
January 1965-June 1970 3,000 8,711
July 1970-February 1974 2,019 9,712
March 1974-June 1978 2,890 11,560
Monthly figures are not available for the years before 1970.