§ 21. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can now make a further statement about the future of underground gasification.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesYes, Sir. The development of the technique of underground gasification has now reached the point at which the establishment of a pilot scale plant is desirable. As from 1st July, the National Coal Board and the Central Electricity Authority have, within their respective spheres, accepted responsibility for the planning and construction of this pilot plant and have undertaken to explore the possibilities of exploitation on a commercial scale. Details of the transition to these new arrangements are now under discussion between my Ministry and the two Authorities. I have indicated to both of them the importance of 694 developing with the utmost expedition this important new technique, as well as my wish that private enterprise should be associated with the work, particularly so that full advantage of it can be taken in overseas markets.
§ Mr. RidsdaleWhy has my right hon. Friend not been able to entrust the whole of this work to private enterprise?
§ Mr. JonesFor a statutory reason and a practical reason. As the Statute now stands, the National Coal Board is the sole authority responsible for the exploitation of the coal resources of the country. The practical reason is that it is desirable that one authority should determine which coal deposits should be exploited by mining and which by underground gasification. For that reason, I thought it right that ultimate responsibility should be given to the National Coal Board but, subject to that ultimate responsibility, I hope that the National Coal Board will be able to devolve on private firms as much as it can of the operating work.