Clean Air Act 1956

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The Clean Air Act 1956 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which responded to London's Great Smog of 1952. It was in effect from 1955-1964 and sponsored by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in England and the Department of Health for Scotland.

The Act aimed to control domestic sources of smoke pollution by introducing smokeless zones. In these areas, only smokeless fuels could be burnt. The Act focused on reducing smoke pollution, but the introduction of cleaner coals and the increased use of electricity and gas helped to reduce sulphur dioxide levels at the same time. In addition, power stations were relocated to more rural areas. As a consequence, air pollution in cities was dramatically reduced.