§ 34. Mr. CLARRYasked the Secretary for Mines what proportion of our commercially-available coal would be suitable for a process of low-temperature distillation and production of oil on an economically and commercially sound basis?
§ Colonel LANE - FOXFurther experience is required in the operation of these processes on a commercial scale before it will be possible to answer this question.
§ Mr. SPENCERAre the Government going to make any further plans with a view to assisting this process in the hope that it may possibly become commercially sound in the immediate future?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXYes, I very much hope so.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESWhat class of coal is likely to be used most successfully in these experiments?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXIt is exactly because we have not had sufficient experience that I cannot give a definite answer, and that is one of the subjects we are most anxious to explore.
§ Mr. JONESSurely it is common knowledge in the mining industry that it is the most volatile class of coal alone that can possibly succeed in these experiments; and why cannot the hon. and gallant Gentleman give us the classes?
§ Mr. HARDIEIs there any coal in Great Britain that cannot be reduced by distillation?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXAll coal will produce results by distillation, but the question is, what coal can be made a commercial success.
§ Mr. HARDIEIn view of the unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to this subject on the Motion for the Adjournment at an early date.