I am grateful for the fact that my hon. Friend has included in his damning indictment "people on both sides of the Thames." I speak for the Kentish side of the river, where for more than 20 years the residents have had to put up with this scourge. It is time that effective action was taken. Kent is referred to as the "Garden of England" but only too often, and par- ticularly during the summer months, the whole countryside is covered by a layer of grey cement dust. I well remember last summer that the people throughout the country had the benefit of an excellent summer, but in Kent—and I am sure it must have been the same in Thurrock—everything was covered by this cement dust. There was to be seen cement dust everywhere. Windows in the houses had to be closed because of the fact that the housewife had a terrific job with the dust which was coming in when the windows were open.

Now, it is rather interesting to note that an investigating committee which has been formed of representatives of the local authorities have met representatives of the cement works in the Dartford district, and they were specifically informed that the policy of the cement works was to control this dust nuisance but that this has been seriously interfered with because they cannot get the machinery necessary for the task. I few days ago, at a public inquiry in Lavington, in Wiltshire, where the cement people were making application to go ahead with some works in that beauty spot, it was mentioned that if approval were given, machinery would be introduced which would completely obviate the cement dust nuisance in the district. We in the Dartford district feel that if that is correct, we have had for a long time, and are continuing to have, a very raw deal indeed, and we look to the Parliamentary Secretary to inform his right hon. Friend that, so far as the social work and the great activities of the Ministry are concerned, it can have little effect in Kent unless this dust is dealt with. We hope that some statement will be made tonight of the steps to be taken to ensure that this scourge will not last for one day longer than is necessary.