Clean Air Act 1956
Encyclopedia
The Clean Air Act 1956 was an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
passed in response to London
's Great Smog of 1952. It was in effect until 1964, and sponsored by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
in England and the Department of Health for Scotland.
The Act introduced a number of measures to reduce air pollution
, especially by introducing 'smoke control areas' in some towns and cities in which only smokeless fuel
s could be burnt. By shifting homes' sources of heat towards cleaner coals, electricity, and gas, it reduced the amount of smoke pollution
and sulphur dioxide from household fires. Reinforcing these changes, the Act also included measures to relocate power stations away from cities, and for the height of some chimneys to be increased.
The Act was an important milestone in the UK's development of a legal framework to protect the environment.
" fell over the city in December 1952 the effects were unprecedented: 12,000 people are thought to have died in the immediate aftermath, triggering great public concern. A further 8,000 died in following weeks and months, with fog so thick it stopped trains, cars, and public events.
It quickly became clear that pollution had become a real and deadly problem, and the smog's terrible effects may have helped inspire the modern environmental movement
. Despite this, however, and data from the Ministry of Health indicative of substantially elevated death rates in London, the Government initially resisted pressure to act, and was keen to downplay the scale of the problem due to economic pressures. It took the recommendations of the Select Committee on Air Pollution and moves by backbench MPs to pass a Private Members Bill on domestic coal burning to get the Government to change the law.
The Clean Air Act builds on earlier efforts to regulate pollutants, particularly in London, where air quality had long been poor. Indeed, London had seen a succession of acts and rules over the centuries to improve its air - most recently the Smoke Nuisance Abatement (Metropolis) Acts 1853 and 1856 and the Public Health (London) Act 1891
. However, despite the link between air pollution and health being well understood by the late 19th century, such efforts had not proved to be effective public health measures.
The 1952 smog gave a momentum for tougher action: as well as this Clean Air Act, its effects also led to the introduction of the City of London (Various Powers) Act of 1954, and influenced the Clean Air Act 1968. And by prohibiting what had been the hitherto widely-accepted actions of private households, the Clean Air Act 1956 had important implications for the debate about public regulation, public health, and the sphere of legitimate Government intervention.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
passed in response to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Great Smog of 1952. It was in effect until 1964, and sponsored by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
Ministry of Housing and Local Government
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government was a United Kingdom government department formed after the Second World War, covering the areas of housing and local government....
in England and the Department of Health for Scotland.
The Act introduced a number of measures to reduce air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
, especially by introducing 'smoke control areas' in some towns and cities in which only smokeless fuel
Smokeless fuel
Smokeless fuel means fuel which does not produce visible smoke when burned. The term is usually applied to solid fuels, such as:* Anthracite* Coke* Charcoal* Hexamine fuel tablets...
s could be burnt. By shifting homes' sources of heat towards cleaner coals, electricity, and gas, it reduced the amount of smoke pollution
Smoke
Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest...
and sulphur dioxide from household fires. Reinforcing these changes, the Act also included measures to relocate power stations away from cities, and for the height of some chimneys to be increased.
The Act was an important milestone in the UK's development of a legal framework to protect the environment.
Historical background
London had long been noted for its fog, but when the "Great SmogGreat Smog of 1952
The Great Smog of '52 or Big Smoke was a severe air pollution event that affected London, England, during December 1952. A period of cold weather, combined with an anticyclone and windless conditions, collected airborne pollutants mostly from the use of coal to form a thick layer of smog over the...
" fell over the city in December 1952 the effects were unprecedented: 12,000 people are thought to have died in the immediate aftermath, triggering great public concern. A further 8,000 died in following weeks and months, with fog so thick it stopped trains, cars, and public events.
It quickly became clear that pollution had become a real and deadly problem, and the smog's terrible effects may have helped inspire the modern environmental movement
Environmental movement
The environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
. Despite this, however, and data from the Ministry of Health indicative of substantially elevated death rates in London, the Government initially resisted pressure to act, and was keen to downplay the scale of the problem due to economic pressures. It took the recommendations of the Select Committee on Air Pollution and moves by backbench MPs to pass a Private Members Bill on domestic coal burning to get the Government to change the law.
The Clean Air Act builds on earlier efforts to regulate pollutants, particularly in London, where air quality had long been poor. Indeed, London had seen a succession of acts and rules over the centuries to improve its air - most recently the Smoke Nuisance Abatement (Metropolis) Acts 1853 and 1856 and the Public Health (London) Act 1891
Public Health (London) Act 1891
The Public Health Act 1891 was a British Act of Parliament which extended access to Metropolitan Asylums Board hospitals to those who were not eligible for poor relief.-External links:*...
. However, despite the link between air pollution and health being well understood by the late 19th century, such efforts had not proved to be effective public health measures.
The 1952 smog gave a momentum for tougher action: as well as this Clean Air Act, its effects also led to the introduction of the City of London (Various Powers) Act of 1954, and influenced the Clean Air Act 1968. And by prohibiting what had been the hitherto widely-accepted actions of private households, the Clean Air Act 1956 had important implications for the debate about public regulation, public health, and the sphere of legitimate Government intervention.
See also
- Clean Air ActClean Air ActA Clean Air Act is one of a number of pieces of legislation relating to the reduction of airborne contaminants, smog and air pollution in general. The use by governments to enforce clean air standards has contributed to an improvement in human health and longer life spans...
- Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation was a system used for dispersing fog from an airfield so that aircraft could land safely...
- an invention later made superfluous because of the 1956 Clean Air Act
External links
- Smog in 1956 and the Clean Air Act at BBC On This Day
- Clean Air Act and air legislation at NetRegs.gov.uk