§ 69. Mr. HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the statement in the report of a subcommittee of the Scottish Development Council that there are 77,000,000 tons of cannel coal yet unworked and capable of yielding 40 gallons of oil to the ton, he can give any information as to the oil taken from cannel coal at Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, in the years 1913 and 1914; and can he give any reasons for the discontinuance of this process?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Wedderburn)I understand that the records of the Mines Department do not contain any information regarding the production of oil from cannel coal at Kilmaurs in 1913 and 1014, but inquiries are being made into the matter, and the result will be communicated to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HARDIEWhy is it that when the Secretary for Mines, answering for his Department the other week, said there was no knowledge of any cannel coal being in Scotland, now we find an ordinary survey showing that there are 77,000,000 tons already in Scotland, and can he say why it is that this information about Scotland is not on the files of the Mines Department?