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or are appliances of a description exempted conditionally or
unconditionally from the provisions of Section 11 of the Clean
Air Act, 1956 (which relates to smoke control areas) by any
order for the time being in force under Sub-section (4) of that
Section.
Powers are given to local authorities to undertake or contribute
towards the cost of investigations and research relevant to the problem
of the pollution of air and to arrange for publicity in various forms
to be given to the subject.
Smoke Control Areas.
Prior to the passing of the Clean Air Act, 1956, a local authority
could only institute a "smokeless zone" by promoting a private Act
and therefore comparatively few authorities possessed the necessary
powers. But the present Act makes it possible for any local authority
to define "Smoke Control Areas." Broadly speaking the effect of a
Smoke Control Order, which must be approved by the Minister of
Housing and Local Government, is to prohibit entirely the emission
of smoke from chimneys in the area but the provisions of the Act are
flexible and allow for adaptation to local circumstances. Specified
buildings or classes of buildings or specified fireplaces or classes of
fireplaces may be exempted from the Order. The Smoke Control
Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) Order, 1957, provides that in England
and Wales fireplaces specially designed or adapted for combustion
of liquid fuel shall, provided that they are so installed, maintained and
operated as to minimise the emission of smoke, be exempted from
the provisions of Section 11 of the Clean Air Act, 1956 (which relates
to Smoke Control Areas).
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations, 1956,
which came into force on the 31st December, 1956, define the fuels
to be used; these fuels are anthracite, briquetted fuels carbonised in
the process of manufacture, coke, electricity, gas, low temperature
carbonisation fuels and low volatile steam coals. If the owner or
occupier of a private dwelling which is in or will be in a Smoke
Control Area has to incur expenditure in adapting his heating arrangements,
he is entitled to a grant from the local authority of at least
seven-tenths of the approved cost subject to the work being done to
the satisfaction of the local authority. No grant is payable in respect
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