§ 46. Miss BONDFIELDasked the Prime Minister whether the Government has considered the question of a guarantee of capital for the development of all approved low-temperature carbonisation systems for extracting the by-products of coal, motor spirit, fuel oils, lubricating oil, smokeless fuel and gas; and if he will now make a statement on the matter?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Commodore Douglas King)I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Cardiff, South (Captain A. Evans).
§ Mr. PALINGWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman make it clear whether anything is being done or not in this direction—whether they are finding capital, or, if not, whether they are considering any scheme?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESAre we to understand that the Government are not prepared to assist in this direction? Would it not be a good thing for the Government to test some of the most promising low-temperature carbonisation schemes on a big scale themselves, seeing that some of them have about reached the commercial stage, and to try them out with a big plant on a large scale, to prove the commercial benefits of laboratory tests?
§ Commodore KINGI have not noticed that companies formed to work low-temperature carbonisation processes have any difficulty in raising capital.