§ 28. Mr. HARDIEasked the Secretary for Mines if the oil from the Bergius plant is a synthetic oil; what is the quantity procured per ton; whether the oil has been analysed, and what are the results; does the oil differ from oil taken from coal by other processes and is its production likely to be cheaper than present practical and commercially-proved plants?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Commodore Douglas King)Synthetic oil is difficult to define accurately, but the oil from the Bergius process is sometimes so described; the answer to the second, third and fourth parts of the question is that the quantity and nature of the oil produced varies with the coal used; and to the fifth that I have no information at present which would justify a prophecy.
§ Mr. HARDIESince this investigation has been going on so long, are the difficulties so great that it is now impossible after all these months to give a complete answer to the six questions contained in my question?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir, I hope the hon. Member will only take from my answer what I put into it.
§ Mr. HARDIEYes, but I want more. Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman responsible for answering this question understand that when we put questions in the House it is not in order to get what Ministers like to give but to get the truth. I want to ask at what stage is this experiment? Is it only at that stage where there is nothing determinative that can be given in the expression of an analysis, say, of oil. Is it in such a state that we cannot get any comparison with any other process that takes oil from coal?
§ Mr. AUSTIN HOPKINSONIs it not perfectly obvious to anyone who knows anything whatsoever about this subject that oil produced by the Bergius process must be synthetic?
§ 34. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Secretary for Mines the quantities of benzol and liquid fuel manufactured by scientific processes from British coal; and the tonnage of coal utilised for this purpose during 1925, 1926, and 1927?
§ Commodore KINGI regret that the information asked for is not available.
§ Mr. WHITELEYHas the hon. and gallant Gentleman noticed that in his speech the Chancellor of the Exchequer referred to this matter as being of great importance, and are we to understand that the information on which we can base exactly what is going to happen in the future cannot be given to the House?
§ Commodore KINGI realise the importance of it. One of my difficulties is as to whether the hon. Member includes in scientific processes the ordinary methods of obtaining benzol from coke ovens. If he means the experimental stage, I am not in a position at the present time to tell him those processes in the experimental stage for endeavouring to obtain oil.
§ Mr. WHITELEYAll that I require is the information that is in the possession of the Government so that the House may know it.
§ Commodore KINGWell, no information is in my possession.
§ Mr. HARDIEArising out of the serious admission now made by the head 1506 of the Mines Department that he has no information, does he call something that is said to be a manufacture from coke an unscientific process, and does the benzol obtained by that process differ from that produced by a scientific process? Has he forgotten that the chief source of benzol is the gas works? My hon. Friend asked a definite question, and we now have the admission that the head of the Mines Department is incapable of answering the question.
§ Mr. MACKINDERIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this is a very important question, and are we really to understand that the Minister can give no information as to how this business is progressing and has no information to tell the House as to whether coal is being scientifically treated?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir. The hon. Gentleman must not take that from my answer. What I said was that we have not the information asked for. I realise the different processes by which benzol is obtained, but my Department have no record of the amount of benzol so obtained.
§ Mr. KELLYCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether his Department furnished the Chancellor of the Exchequer with the information upon which he based his statement during his Budget speech?
§ Commodore KINGI should require notice of that question.
§ Mr. HARDIEMay I ask just one more question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put down the question.