§ 6. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the national need of calcium carbide, to the wide range of products that can be made from calcium carbide, to the need for the production of alcohol for industrial purposes, to the potential capacity for making industrial alcohol, and the wide range of substances to be obtained by the application of the scientific treatment of coal and the development of its by-products; and what action is he taking to deal with this need?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Oliver Stanley)I am aware of the importance of calcium carbide and of the wide range of products which can be made from it. Some of these can be and are being made in this country from other materials. Considerable attention has been paid in recent years to the scientific treatment of coal and the development of its by-products. Where possible the 2592 Government have assisted in this work, as, for instance, in the Finance Act of last year, which implemented the principal recommendation of the Falmouth Committee on Oil from Coal, namely, the continuation for a period of 12 years of the guaranteed preference on home-produced oils.
§ Mr. BateyIs not the Minister going to do anything more in regard to the abstraction of oil from coal?
§ Mr. StanleyWe had the principal recommendation of the very strong committee which discussed this subject.
§ Mr. BateyIn spite of that, are not the Government doing anything in regard to the abstraction of oil from coal?
§ Mr. BoothbyWill my right hon. Friend consider reintroducing the Caledonian Power Bill?
§ 7. Mr. E. Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the importation of 70,000 tons of calcium carbide last year; that the world demand and production is steadily increasing; that the needs of this country are increasing, and, in view of this, what action has been taken to meet this demand and what further action is contemplated?
§ Mr. StanleyI am aware of the importance of calcium carbide to our industries, but I have no information of any difficulty in meeting the demand. The Government would, of course, welcome any well-considered plan for the production of this material in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the attitude of the Government towards the production of calcium carbide, will not they arrange for a public utility company or for a Government-controlled factory to produce it in the Highlands?
§ Mr. StanleyThere was a plan for the production of calcium carbide in the Highlands, but it was rejected by this House.
§ Mr. GallacherWill not the right hon. Gentleman consider the introduction of a public utility company or a Government-controlled factory?
§ Mr. George HallWas not a promise given when the Bill was before the House that a calcium carbide works would be 2593 established, and is it not the fact that that promise has not been carried out?
§ Mr. StanleyThat is a matter of opinion, and it is a subject upon which I have a very strong opinion, but the fact remains that it was not done.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend, now Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, gave an assurance to this House that the matter would receive the active consideration of the Government, and can he say what has been done? Are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman is not aware of what happens in the Cabinet?
§ Sir Joseph LambShould not a strong recommendation be made to the Calcium Carbide Company that they should assume the responsibility?
§ Mr. StanleyVery strong recommendations were made. As a matter of fact, I have recently been in communication with local authorities and others about a scheme for the production of calcium carbide in another part of the country.