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A measure of the effectiveness of these services will be found in
the extent to which they have added "quality" to life.
Outlined in this section are the efforts made by the department
during 1968 to maintain and improve the high standards already
achieved.
New Legislation
Clean Air Act, 1968.
This Act, which received the Royal Assent on 25th October,
1968, amends and adds to the provisions of the Clean Air Act,
1956.
The Clean Air Act, 1968 (Commencement No. 1) Order, 1968,
appoints 1st April, 1969, as the appointed day for the coming into
force of Sections 2, 6, 8-13 inclusive, Section 14(1) and paragraphs
1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10 and 12 of Schedule 1, except in so far as any of
those paragraphs refer to Sections 1 and 3 to 5, Section 14(2) and
Schedule 2 and Sections 14(3) and 15. The main effects of these
provisions are as follows :—
Grit and Dust from Furnaces
The existing provisions concerning the emission of grit and dust
are extended to apply to a wider range of furnaces than hitherto,
namely to any furnace burning solid, liquid or gaseous matter
other than small domestic furnaces. In addition, the Minister now
has the power to prescribe maximum permissible rates of emission
of grit and dust from furnace chimneys and when he has made
regulations in this regard it will be an offence involving a daily
penalty of up to £100 to exceed the limits prescribed. The new
Act retains the present general obligation to use any practicable
means there may be for keeping the emissions of grit and dust
to a minimum.
Control of Chimney Heights
The Act contains new provisions for the control by local
authorities of the heights of furnace chimneys. Under the 1956
Act, control over the heights of industrial chimneys was exercised
by local authorities as part of their function of approving plans for
new buildings under building regulations, and there was exemption
from these provisions in respect of the London area and for residences,
shops or offices. The new arrangements will apply to a
wider range of furnaces and will constitute a power of control
independent of building regulations. The exemptions mentioned
above will no longer apply. After the appointed date any person