HC Deb 24 March 1936 vol 310 c1053
96. Mr. WHITELEY

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the experiment of extracting oil from coal by the Bergius process is still being proceeded with at the Greenwich research station; and what progress is being made?

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

Yes, Sir. Processes for the production of oil from coal by hydrogenation are constantly under investigation at the Fuel Research Station, East Greenwich. Many modifications in technique have been made to the process originally formulated by Dr. Bergius. The progress of the work of the station is described in the annual reports of the Fuel Research Board, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the latest of these.

Mr. WHITELEY

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this process is actually in use in any part of the country to-day?

Mr. MacDONALD

Oh, yes, it is the basis of the biggest undertakings that are going on.