§ 65. Mr. Saltasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is yet in a position to make any statement as to the action which it is proposed to take to increase research activities for the better utilisation of coal in this country on the lines of the Report recently issued by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, a copy of which has been sent to him?
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Attlee)I have been asked to reply. No, Sir, but I hope to be able to make an announcement at a later date. I can, however, say now that plans are being made by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for the development after the war, on a national basis, of scientific and industrial research. These plans will include the development of research on fuel, including the utilisation of coal, by the Government's Fuel Research Organisation and by industrial organisations. The Standing Consultative Conference on Fuel Research set up by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, which has now started its work, will co-ordinate the work of Government and industrial organisations on fuel.
The British Coal Utilisation Research Association, the Gas Research Board, the British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association and other research organisations, which are already receiving grants from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, are planning to expand their research activities on the utilisation of coal. Further grants, to other bodies, are now under consideration.