§ 33. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Agriculture what action has been taken with a view to the manufacture of alcohol, for power purposes, from sugar-beet?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)The manufacture of alcohol for power purposes from sugar-beet has been fully considered by the Government this year, and a small Expert Committee was appointed to consider certain technical questions, including the probable cost of production. The Report of the Committee (published by the Stationery Office in July last) lends no support to the belief that the production of power alcohol would be a profitable undertaking at the present time, even with the assistance of the same proportionate subsidy as is now given for the production of beet sugar, and the Government accordingly decided that they could not adopt the proposal.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether a development of this process would cause the price of petrol to decline?
§ Mr. GUINNESSThat is a matter of opinion on which I could hardly be expected to commit myself.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what was the Committee's decision on that matter?
§ Mr. GUINNESSIf the hon. Member wishes to go into that, I think that, as the question is a technical one, he had better read their Report?