HC Deb 22 October 1940 vol 365 cc921-2
13. Mr. David Adams

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it has been decided to publish the reports of the committee which investigated various aspects of the question of providing alternative supplies of liquid fuel or of gas for motor transport; and, if so, when these reports may be expected?

Mr. Grenfell

The Ridley Committee's report raises a number of important questions of Government policy affecting several Departments, and these, including the question of publication, are at present under consideration. As the hon. Member will be aware, other committees have been examining cognate problems and it is necessary to have regard to the results of all these investigations before deciding the extent to which publication is advisable in present circumstances.

Mr. Adams

Is my hon. Friend aware that this matter is of very great importance in the mining areas, and can we expect a report at a fairly early date?

Mr. Grenfell

We fully realise the importance to mining areas of all these re- ports, but I said in my answer that this matter affects several Departments—the Ministry of Supply and other Departments—which, although I cannot enter into details, are anxious to find out at the earliest possible date how far these inquiries will carry us.

Sir Stanley Reed

Is my hon. Friend aware that this Committee was appointed in January of last year to deal with this very urgent matter, and that the House was assured in September last year that producer-gas had passed the experimental stages?

Mr. Grenfell

I do not agree with that statement. The experiments are still going on, and the last word has not been said in regard to the most effective way of using producer-gas equipment for motor vehicles.

Mr. Thorne

Cannot the heads of the Departments confer together so as to get the question settled?

Mr. Grenfell

We are constantly discussing this matter with people who know the subject, and I have already reported to the House that we are increasing the number of vehicles driven by producer-gas. There were only a few hundred vehicles, but the numbers have very substantially increased, so that we are getting on with this matter.