§ 24. Mr. BATEYasked the Secretary for Mines whether any progress is being made towards extracting fuel oil from coal; and what steps the Government are prepared to take to help the coal industry to establish this new process?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Isaac Foot)The possibilities of the processes referred to by the hon. Member are receiving constant attention and study commercially. With regard to the Government's proposals for research I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given, on the 23rd September by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council to the former Member for 839 Pontefract. The whole subject will continue to be kept under review by the Government.
§ Mr. BATEYHas any progress been made? Is the Minister aware that research has been going on for many years, and that there seems to be no progress made?
§ Mr. FOOTI think progress has (been made already. But the conditions of Government support and sympathy were stated by the Lord President of the Council in answer to a question.
§ 25. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information as to the commercial possibilities of producing petrol from coal on a paying basis; and if his attention has been drawn to the process by which petrol can be produced from coal in Britain which could be retailed at 8d. a gallon with profit to the producer?
§ Mr. FOOTI assume that the hon. Member refers to the production of petrol from coal by hydrogenation, on which considerable work has been carried out by Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited. That company has quoted an estimated figure of 7d. a gallon as cost at works, but I have not seen any suggestion of a retail price of 8d. a gallon.
§ Mr. GRENFELLIs the Minister's information confined to the process that has been brought out by Imperial Chemical Industries? Are there no other companies Cannot the Department get information about other processes?
§ Mr. FOOTI am aware that there are a large number of different processes, and every action taken in that direction is under careful review in my Department.
§ Mr. BATEYCannot the Minister say whether the Mines Department has gone into the question whether low temperature carbonisation or the hydrogenation system is the better, and assist accordingly?
§ Mr. FOOTAll the processes are carefully compared in our records from day to day and from week to week.