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4 The Minister therefore considers that it is time for a general review of
the position, in the light of experience gained since 1959 He asks the
authorities whose districts are included in the Department's provisional list
of black areas to see whether dates originally set for finishing the job can be
brought forward and to prepare programmes for establishing smoke control areas
in the five-year period 1962-66
5 In so doing the authorities are asked to take full account of the time
likely to be saved by the simplification of administrative procedures set out
in the Department s Circular No. 3/62
6 The authorities are invited to inform the Minister by the 30th April,
1962, of their conclusions, in the form shown in the Appendix. It is his
intention to publish the information in a further Command Paper.
7 A number of the authorities have been deterred from preparing programmes
because they have been concerned about the effect of smoke control on persons
receiving coal at concessionary rates from the National Coal Board. The
National Coal Board and the trade unions have reached agreement whereby the
great majority of such persons will in smoke control areas be entitled to
receive solid smokeless fuel or cash payments instead of coal, and the Minister
trusts that this will remove the obstacle in these cases and that programmes
will now be submitted. He asks the authorities on the list who for any
other reason have not yet prepared programmes to consider again most carefully
whether their present policy is consistent with the health and well-being
of their communities.

*Includes two areas scheduled for redevelopment.
The details given above are factual up to the making of the Order in respect
of the proposed No. 6 Area and thereafter are tentative.
SECTION 12 (Adaptation of fireplaces in private dwellings). During the
year the following Notices were served
(1) Intimation Notices 3,345
(2) Statutory Notices 3,956
Summonses were issued against twenty two owners who failed to comply with
notices requiring them to carry out the adaptations necessary to enable the
occupiers of the premises concerned to comply with the terms of Smoke Control
Orders. In 19 cases the summonses were withdrawn without costs as work was
completed before date of hearing Of the remaining three cases in one the
summons was withdrawn as work was in hand at time of hearing. In the second
case the summons was withdrawn as the owner was deceased, and in the remaining
instance the summons was withdrawn as the tenant had undertaken to carry out
the adaptation.