HC Deb 13 July 1936 vol 314 cc1660-1
49. Mr. T. WILLIAMS

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Fuel Research Board have yet been asked to report upon the new carbonisation process of the National Coke and Oil Company, Limited; and whether the report, if any, is regarded as satisfactory?

The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 25th June last, to which I have nothing to add.

Mr. WILLIAMS

As this company are asking the public for large sums of money for a process which may or may not be efficacious, is it within the power of his Department to make a public statement when non-tested processes are utilised for the purpose of collecting hundreds of thousands of pounds from the investing public?

Mr. MacDONALD

I have been happy on more than one occasion to make it public that since 1932 we are prepared to test these processes, but we have not received sanction or the necessary invitation from the company.

63. Mr. WILLIAMS

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in the case of processes for the production of oil from a mixture of coal and imported oil, the preference which is accorded to home-produced motor spirit and heavy oils is applied to the whole of the oil products obtained or only to that part which is produced from coal?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Captain Crookshank)

No, Sir. Any oils derived from imported oil are liable to customs duty at the appropriate rate; the preference therefore applies solely to that part of the products which is produced from coal.