GAS RESEARCH COUNCIL

HC Deb 23 July 1951 vol 491 cc22-3

22. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power for what reason he has accepted advice to close down the Gas Research Council; and what organisation he proposes to set up in its place.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll), on the 4th of June.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

Can the Minister say how this new set-up of the nationalised authority, whose chairman is a chartered accountant, can possibly compare with the old set-up, which had the best brains in the gas industry for the purpose?

Mr. Noel-Baker

With great respect to the gas industry, I think that the research was most inadequate in the past. I hope that it will be developed far more than it was then.