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promised to do everything possible to ensure that these needs would continue to
be met.
In spite of all the difficulties the Minister confirmed that it was the Government's
intention to encourage and facilitate vigorous action against urban smoke pollution.
To do this it had become necessary to make changes in the arrangements under the
Clean Air Act. For all future smoke control orders local authorities were to take full
account of the local supply position to consult, at an early stage, representatives of
fuel and power producers and distributors as indicated by the Minister for each region.
Results of such consultations are to be reported to the Minister when any new Order
is submitted. The Minister considered that the installation of openable stoves, underfloor
draught fires, or fixed gas, electric storage or oil heaters should now be regarded
as "reasonably necessary" works and the full expenditure on such installations should
rank for grant. The increased use of stoves capable of burning hard coke which would
continue in good supply should be encouraged, but the use of direct electric space
heaters which adds to the difficulties being experienced by the electricity supply
industry in meeting peak loads in cold weather should be discouraged. Grant for the
installation of improved open grates would only continue to be payable when the local
authority were informed that supplies of open grate fuel would be available for a
proposed new area. Otherwise, grants would be payable for replacing such grates by
other types of appliance.
Attention was also drawn to certain proposed amendments to the Clean Air Act
which were included in the Housing Bill then before Parliament.
The effect of the advice and guidance given in the Circular and the implementation
of the new grant arrangements which it authorised were considered by the Public
Health Committee early in 1964, and a new list of reasonable prices for the provision
of the various forms of space heating on which grant would be payable, was approved.
The new arrangements were to become operative in all new areas commencing with
that covered by the No. 16 Smoke Control Order.
During the early months of the year, the exceptionally severe weather conditions
created some difficulties with fuel supplies generally. Most householders using solid
fuel found their supplies running short owing to increased heating demands and
distributors were hard put to keep pace with their deliveries, which were hampered by
road conditions and frozen stocks in the depots. The problem was therefore largely
that of delivery rather than of supply.
A limited scheme for supplying small quantities of prepacked coal and smokeless
fuel to old persons and families, where there were very young children, who were
unable to obtain supplies quickly was operated by the Department. This scheme was
made possible through the generosity of the Mayor's Christmas Fund, which enabled
the scheme to be financed. By this means 87 households were assisted and in some
cases more than one delivery was made. In almost every case the cost of the fuel
supplied was recovered and the Mayor's Fund reimbursed.
"Homefire"
A new fuel known as "fiuidised char binderless briquettes", but to be sold under
the name "Homefire" was authorised during 1963 for use in smoke control areas.
This fuel was being produced in the Birch Coppice plant by the National Coal Board
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