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Motor Vehicles
[Lord Swansea.]
[LORDS]
an
research is also proceeding into efficient and economic alternative to the internal combustion engine?
ORD SHEPHERD: My Lords, a good deal of research is going on in this matter, but I think that those who know will appreciate that the possibility of replacing the internal combustion engine is a long way away.
LORD SORENSEN: My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the Government appreciate that this is a very urgent matter; and in view of the ever- increasing number of cars and vehicles emitting smoke and fumes the atmosphere in congested areas is becoming so toxic as to be dangerous to the population.
LORD SHEPHERD: My Lords, I have been trying to keep my supplementary answers short, but in view of what my noble friend has said and the alarm which may come from it I should point out that for industrial premises the regulations are that work shall not be permitted where there are 50 particles of carbon monoxide per million. Normally in our streets, even in the conditions of a heavy traffic jam, it is a mere 20 p.p.m., which in the view of medical research does not confront us with a medical danger.
"
LORD SORENSEN: But the jams are becoming increasingly frequent."
À LORD CLIFFORD of CHUDLEIGH: My Lords, is not the answer to the ques- tion the use of platinum as a catalyst?
LORD SHEPHERD: My Lords, I think I had better have notice of that question.
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES: OMBUDSMEN PROPOSAL
2.40 p.m.
LORD BEAUMONT of WHITLEY: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Ques- tion which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will recommend to British Colonial Governments that they should appoint Ombudsmen.]
LORD SHEPHERD: My Lords, any member of the public in the Dependent
H.L. 18 A 4
Exhaust Fumes
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| Territories already has the right to peti- tion the Governor, the Secretary of State and Her Majesty The Queen about any grievances he may have. But should the Government of any Dependent Terri- tory express a wish to, appoint an Om- budsman Her Majesty's Government would of course give the matter careful and sympathetic consideration.
LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY: My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that Answer, may I ask whether it is the practice of Her Majesty's Govern- ment to give advice on Constitutional and social innovations to Colonial Governments? If so, is it not important that advice should be given on the inno- vation of the office of Ombudsman which has been such a success in this country?
LORD SHEPHERD: My Lords, of course we give advice, but in the main it is for the Territories themselves to decide whether they should accept that advice. I think the noble Lord should bear in mind that our Ombudsman in this country has a special relationship to Parliament, and many of the Dependent Territories have not yet reached the same Parliamentary basis as we have in this country.
But this is a matter to which we have already drawn the attention of the Dependent Territories.
DECIMAL COINAGE:
DESIGN OF NEW PENNY
EARL FERRERS: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper. [The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty Government whether they intend to change the design of the new Ip/piece in view of the marked similarly in size of the present 6d. piece and the proposed new Ip piece, and the fact that both coins will be in circulation concurrently.]
LORD BESWICK: No, my Lords. The decimal new penny is designed in a metal of quite different colour from that in which the sixpence is made and, in addi- tion, will have a plain instead of a milled edge. The two coins will therefore be readily distinguished when used in cash transactions between people, and so far Is slot machines are concerned those
Hansard No. 55.
Vol. 308.
24
March, 1970.
Got sent baling
Ken
4