MR. J. W. WILSON (Worcestershire, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the Report and recommendations last year of the Departmental Committee appointed in 1898 to inquire into the manufacture and use of water gas, and also to the fact that such gas, made from coke and oil instead of coal, is being increasingly and profitably produced by gas companies, whilst local authorities owning their own gas works are now debarred from laying out such plant, owing to the refusal of the Local Government Board to sanction loans for this purpose until the regulations recommended for the use of carburetted water gas are laid down, the Board of Trade will take steps to frame such rules and regulations at an early date.
§ MR. RITCHIEThe Board of Trade cannot give effect to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee by rules and regulations. Legislation would be necessary, and on this point I can only say, as I did in reply to a question put by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Stepney, on the 25th May, that in any general legislation my right hon. friends, the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the President of the Local 654 Government Board, would probably have a larger interest than the Board of Trade, and that I cannot make any promise on the subject.
MR. J. W. WILSONwas understood to ask: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a great number of towns water gas is being supplied in excess of the regulation amount?
§ MR. RITCHIENo, Sir; but if the hon. Gentleman can give me any information I shall be happy to consider it.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)May I ask whether it is not a fact that analysis showed that in Dublin 20 per cent. of water gas was used contrary to the recommendations of the Home Office Committee?
§ MR RITCHIEI shall inquire into that.