§ 38. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the nature and composition of the advisory services, maintained or sponsored by his Department, to secure optimum industrial fuel utilisation and economy, with special reference to coal; whether reports are published periodically of the activities of such advisory services; and whether, in view of the urgent need for coal conservation, any expansion or re-organisation of these advisory services is now contemplated.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI am advised by a Central Fuel Efficiency Advisory Committee and by 12 regional committees; their members are prominent engineers, scientists and other experts. I have a service of fuel technicians to advise industry and to improve the standard of stoking in industrial plants; their numbers have been increased in the last few months from 117 to 144.
I have mobile testing units to measure the heat and power produced in industrial plants, and to detect waste; their numbers have been increased from four to 16 since September last. Educational courses in fuel technology have been provided. Reports of this work appear in the Board of Trade Journal; and in "Fuel Efficiency News," a monthly publication issued by my Ministry. Numerous textbooks and bulletins are also published. All these services are being expanded, as suitable experts can be found.
§ Mr. NabarroIn view of the diverse character of the services to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, and the urgent need for impressing upon all industrial undertakings the requirement of the conservation of solid fuel, will he now consider the consolidation of these services and providing a wider measure of publicity for them?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI think the services are already consolidated by my Ministry. I am constantly encouraging publicity for them, both educational and by propaganda. I am glad to say that I am having the full co-operation of the F.B.I, and the trade associations.
§ Sir Waldron SmithersWill the right hon. Gentleman change the title of the paper to which he referred from "Fuel Efficiency News" to "Fuel Inefficiency News"?