§ 11. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the considerable commercial potentialities of methane gas drained from coal mines; what pits in the United Kingdom are using methane gas for any useful purpose; whether he is aware of the rapid development of the use of methane gas in Belgium and the Saar basin during the last few years; and whether he will make a statement upon national policy in regard to the recovery and use of methane gas for industrial purposes.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydYes, Sir, the National Coal Board are fully aware of the commercial value of methane. At present methods of collecting the gas are 618 mainly experimental, although at one colliery, I understand that all the power used is obtained from methane gas piped from the coal seams. Experiments are being made at other collieries.
§ Mr. NabarroWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the use of methane gas, which is a natural gas found in most coalfields in the United Kingdom in greater or lesser degree, raises the standard of efficiency in the use of coal very greatly, for it dispenses with the use of coal at the gas works, and substitutes methane in the area of the coalfields?
§ Mr. LloydYes, Sir. I am not sure that British coalfields are likely to produce methane on that scale or to the extent which is the case in some coalfields on the Continent.