§ 63. Mr. TINKERasked the President of the Board of Education the number of tons of coal treated at the Fuel Research Station, East Greenwich, during 1925; and if he will give the value of the gas and tar sold to the South Metropolitan Gas Company for the same period?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Duchess of Atholl)The amount of coal treated at the Fuel Research Station, East Greenwich, during 1925 was 3,314 tons. A considerable proportion of the products from the coal carbonised is used at the Fuel Research Station. The value of the untreated gas and tar surplus to the requirements of the station and sold to the South Metropolitan Gas Company amounted to: gas £1,249, and tar £318. In addition, £250 was received from sale of coke, the balance of gas and coke being used for other experimental work and for power production.
§ Mr. TINKERCan the Noble Lady say how the prices compare with the market prices of these two commodities?
§ Mr. W. THORNECan the Noble lady say whether there is a record of the number of cubic feet extracted from each ton of coal?
§ Mr. CONNOLLYSeeing the widespread interest taken in this matter, will it be possible for the Department to place the last Report of the Fuel Research Committee in the Library of the House?
Duchess of ATHOLLI understand that a Report of the Fuel Research Committee is about to be published.
§ Mr. CONNOLLYCan we have a copy of the Report placed in the Library?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWill the Noble Lady consider the desirability of representing to the Prime Minister that this vital industrial subject ought to be dealt with by someone other than the President of the Board of Education?
§ 64. Mr. TINKERasked the President of the Board of Education what are the financial arrangements made with the colliery companies which send coal to be tested at the East Greenwich coal-washing plant?
Duchess of ATHOLLThe coal-washing plant, as is the case with other large scale plant at the Fuel Research Station, is intended for investigations of general interest, and, as a rule, the coal required is purchased. Special investigations may be carried out for interested parties, when the plant is available. In such cases the coal is provided free, and a fee may be charged in addition, depending on whether the results are of general interest, and available for publication, or of restricted interest only.
§ 65. Mr. TINKERasked the President of the Board of Education the quantity of oil extracted per ton of coal treated by the Dr. Bergin's process; and if he will give the comparison between this method and the low-temperature carbonisation process?
Duchess of ATHOLLThe crude oil and spirit obtained from one ton of a suitable coal treated by the Bergius method amounts to from 110 to 135 gallons. In addition, a further unknown 972 amount of coal is necessary for power and hydrogen production. The highest yields of dry tar and spirit, observed by the Fuel Research Staff, as obtained from the low-temperature carbonisation of ordinary coal in a large scale plant, is about 21 gallons, but the average bituminous coal will probably not yield more than about 15 gallons. Good quality cannel coal, of which, however, there is only a limited supply, may yield 50 to 60 gallons.
Mr. ERSKINEIs it not the fact that there has been a great deal too much tinkering with this subject altogether?
§ Mr. HARDIEMay I ask the Noble Lady, since the oil produced by the system mentioned in the question is synthetic oil, whether she can give us the actual content of the coal subjected to the process?