§ 10 Mr. EDGAR JONESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether he will state the particulars of the prizes he proposes to offer to inventors of improved processes for the distillation of oil from coal; (2) whether he will arrange a system of research scholarships tenable at the mining school of the South Wales University College and other mining schools for purposes of research in the distillation and analytic classification of the various kinds of coal to be found in the United Kingdom; (3) whether he will arrange for a scientific inquiry as to the oil-yielding properties of the various classes of coal within the United Kingdom; and (4) whether he will build and maintain a suitable experimental plant for the distillation of oil from coal, or subscribe to the shares of a syndicate formed for that purpose, on similar lines to the investment in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs I have explained to my hon. Friend in reply to other questions, there are a number of considerations involved besides the question of research, and many other important interests are affected in addition to those of the Admiralty. The research side and the best methods of stimulating research will 1892 receive the fullest consideration. An Admiralty Departmental Committee has already been appointed to take up the consideration of various questions relating to oil supply. Certain definite proposals for inquiry in relation to the possibility of oil extraction from coal will be referred to that Committee for early consideration, and in the meantime I am unable to state in detail what steps will ultimately be taken.
§ Mr. E. JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman let us have the terms of reference to the Committee later on?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI will consider that.
§ 15. Mr. E. JONESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will publish Papers containing information in the possession of the Admiralty as to the use of oil fuel by foreign navies, and as to the processes being worked in foreign countries for the distillation of oil from coal.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA good deal of information on the subject of the use of oil fuel by foreign navies has appeared in the Press, and I fear that I cannot usefully or properly supplement it. The Admiralty are not aware that any processes are being worked commercially in foreign countries for the distillation of oil from coal. No doubt some processes are being worked experimentally, and as far as I know they are the same or much the same as those in England which the Admiralty have under observation.
§ Mr. E. JONESHas the Admiralty made any inquiries at all?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWe have made every inquiry. We are accumulating all the information we possibly can.
§ Mr. E. JONESIf so, why not publish some report so that Members may get the information.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is not always advisable or convenient to publish reports received as to what foreign countries are doing. Experience shows that very frequently these reports, when published, are animadverted upon in the countries to which they refer.
§ Colonel YATECan the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of British coal is taken by foreign navies?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNot off-hand.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs there any evidence to show that oil can be distilled from coal at 1893 a price at which it can compete with oil otherwise produced?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWe have to consider that a new habit of industry must be created, and that there should be a market in this country for the by-products.