§ 46. Mr. WHITEasked the Lord President of the Council whether the Fuel Research Board has investigated the question of the production of Diesel oil from coal; and, if so, whether any Diesel oil suitable for high-speed engines has yet been obtained by any of the processes now being operated for obtaining oil from coal?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is understood that certain distillates obtained by the processing of coal have been successfully tried in high-speed Diesel engines after the addition of certain other materials.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs it not a fact that, so far as the production of oil from coal is concerned, we have not yet got what is known as a straight oil; that all these oils are mixed oils and that we have not yet got from our coal distillates what ought to have been got from them; and is the Lord President of the Council not aware that in 1924 the Department in Greenwich produced the oil in question, and that he has been responsible for holding back the development of the industry in this country?
§ Mr. MAGNAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say which process has been successful?
§ Mr. MacDONALDIf the hon. Member puts down a question I shall be glad to answer it. Inquiries are still proceeding.