Alkali Act 1863
Encyclopedia
Under the British
Alkali Act 1863, an Alkali inspector and four subinspectors were appointed to curb discharge into the air of hydrogen chloride
(gas
eous hydrochloric acid) from the Leblanc alkali
works.
In 1874 the Inspector became the Chief Inspector. The Chief Inspector was statutorily responsible for the standards set and maintained by the Inspectorate, and reported directly to the Permanent Secretary of his Department. For the first sixty years of its existence, the Inspectorate was solely concerned with the heavy chemicals industry
, but from the 1920s onwards, its responsibilities were expanded, culminating in the Alkali Order 1958. This placed all major heavy industries which emitted smoke
, grit, dust and fumes under the supervision of the Inspectorate.
The Chief Inspector's independence disappeared when the Inspectorate was transferred to the Health and Safety Executive
in 1975.
The Inspectorate was known as Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate from 1983 to 1987 and became Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP) when it was transferred back to the Department of the Environment
in 1987.
HMIP became part of the Environment Agency
on 1 April 1996.
A further Alkali Act was passed in 1906. Together with amendments, the Alkali Act became the main legislative control of industrial pollution
in the UK. It was finally repealed and replaced by the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Alkali Act 1863, an Alkali inspector and four subinspectors were appointed to curb discharge into the air of hydrogen chloride
Hydrogen chloride
The compound hydrogen chloride has the formula HCl. At room temperature, it is a colorless gas, which forms white fumes of hydrochloric acid upon contact with atmospheric humidity. Hydrogen chloride gas and hydrochloric acid are important in technology and industry...
(gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
eous hydrochloric acid) from the Leblanc alkali
Leblanc process
The Leblanc process was the industrial process for the production of soda ash used throughout the 19th century, named after its inventor, Nicolas Leblanc. It involved two stages: Production of sodium sulfate from sodium chloride, followed by reaction of the sodium sulfate with coal and calcium...
works.
In 1874 the Inspector became the Chief Inspector. The Chief Inspector was statutorily responsible for the standards set and maintained by the Inspectorate, and reported directly to the Permanent Secretary of his Department. For the first sixty years of its existence, the Inspectorate was solely concerned with the heavy chemicals industry
Chemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
, but from the 1920s onwards, its responsibilities were expanded, culminating in the Alkali Order 1958. This placed all major heavy industries which emitted smoke
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...
, grit, dust and fumes under the supervision of the Inspectorate.
Timeline
The Inspectorate has worked under the purview of many different departments:- From 1863 to 1872, the Board of TradeBoard of TradeThe Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
- From 1873 to 1918, the Local Government BoardLocal Government BoardThe Local Government Board was a British Government supervisory body overseeing local administration in England and Wales from 1871 to 1919.The LGB was created by the Local Government Board Act 1871 The Local Government Board (LGB) was a British Government supervisory body overseeing local...
- From 1919 to 1951, the Ministry of Health
- From 1951 to 1970, the Ministry of Housing and Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing and Local GovernmentThe 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....
- From 1970 to 1975, the Department of the EnvironmentSecretary of State for the EnvironmentThe Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Department of the Environment . This was created by Edward Heath as a combination of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Building and Works on 15...
The Chief Inspector's independence disappeared when the Inspectorate was transferred to the Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
in 1975.
The Inspectorate was known as Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate from 1983 to 1987 and became Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP) when it was transferred back to the Department of the Environment
Secretary of State for the Environment
The Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Department of the Environment . This was created by Edward Heath as a combination of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Building and Works on 15...
in 1987.
HMIP became part of the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
on 1 April 1996.
A further Alkali Act was passed in 1906. Together with amendments, the Alkali Act became the main legislative control of industrial pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
in the UK. It was finally repealed and replaced by the Environmental Protection Act 1990.