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Minister who shall then make an inquiry into the circumstances and if
it is found that there is cause for complaint, employ all practicable
means to prevent or minimise the emission or to abate the nuisance and
prevent its recurrence.
SECTION 23 (Clean Air Council) requires the Minister of Housing and
Local Government to appoint a Clean Air Council, for the purposes of -
(a) keeping under review the progress made (whether under this Act
or otherwise) in abating the pollution of the air in England
and Wales; and
(b) obtaining the advice of persons having special knowledge,
experience or responsibility in regard to prevention of pollu
tion of the air.
SECTION 24 (Building Byelaws) enacts that building byelaws may require
the provision in new buildings of such arrangements for heating or
cooking as are calculated to prevent as far as practicable the emission
of smoke. (In London such byelaws are made by the London County
Council).
SECTION 25 (Powers of Local authorities as to research and publicity) a
local authority may
(a) undertake, or contribute towards the cost of, investigations
and research relevant to the problem of the pollution of the
air;
(b) arrange for the publication within their area of information
on that problem;
(c) arrange for the delivery of lectures and addresses, and the
holding of discussions, on that problem;
(d) arrange for the display of pictures, cinematograph films or
models, or the holding of exhibitions, relating to that
problem; and
(e) prepare, or join in or contribute to the cost of the prepara
tion of, pictures, filmss models or exhibitions to be dis
played or held as aforesaid.
SECTION 26 (Unjustified disclosures of information) makes it an offence
for any person to disclose, except in certain circumstances, information
relating to any manufacturing process or trade secret which has been
supplied to or obtained by him for the purposes of the Act.
SECTION 27 (Penalties) sets out the penalties applicable to offences
under the various sections of the Act.
SECTION 28 (Power of county court to authorise works and order payments)
relates to the determination of difficulties arising between landlord
and tenant and empowers a county court to authorise the tenant to carry
out works not withstanding the terms of his tenancy, and, where appropriate,
to recover the whole or part of his costs from the landlord or
some other person.
SECTION 29 (Enforcement) places upon local authorities the duty of
enforcing the provisions of the Act in their districts, A local
authority may institute proceedings under Section 1 (Prohibition of dark
smoke from chimneys) in the case of any smoke which affects any part of
heir district notwithstanding that the smoke is emitted from a chimney
outside their district.