HC Deb 20 June 1927 vol 207 cc1491-2
65. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a guarantee under the Trade Facilities Act has been given to a company known as Fuel Utilisation, Limited, which proposes to exploit a method of low temperature carbonisation developed at the Government fuel research station; and what advantage will accrue to the Exchequer should the method prove to be commercially successful?

Mr. McNEILL

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the guarantee given for three years in respect of a capital of £100,000 to the Fuel Production Company, as set out in House of Commons Paper No. 61 of 1927. For a full statement of the circumstances I would refer him to the speech of my noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education on the Coal (Scientific Research) Motion on the 11th May last.

Mr. HOPKINSON

May I ask what was the actual subscribed capital of this company, apart from the Government guarantee?

Mr. McNEILL

If my hon. Friend will look at the speech to which I have referred in my answer, I think he will ascertain all the circumstances.