36. Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is now in a position to state what steps are being taken by his Department with a view to the setting up of oil from coal plants in the county of Durham or in any other parts of the coalfields?
§ 38 Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary for Mines (1) the names of the committee appointed to investigate the possibilities of low-temperature carbonisation of coal; what are their terms of reference; and when he expects to receive their report;
(2) what action he has taken, or intends to take, to improve the output of oil from coal, to bring about the development in the production of by-products, and a greater utilisation of by-products by a more scientific organisation of the coal and ancillary industries;
(3) whether he can make a statement on the committees that he has set up, or proposes to set up, to investigate and report on the coal and ancillary industries?
§ Mr. LloydI would ask the hon. Members to await the statement which I propose to make to-morrow on the steps which are being taken to secure the most effective use of home-produced substitutes for imported fuels.