§ 2. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Paymaster-General to what extent the Shape process briquettes have proved successful; and what steps are being taken to provide plants in coal fields other than South Wales.
§ Mr. MaudlingA pilot plant has been erected in South Wales and two variants of the Shape process are being tried there. Until the process has been further developed the question of erecting plant in coal fields other than South Wales cannot be decided.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that if this scheme is successful, in order to bring about efficiency and to cheapen transportation, one of these plants should be installed in the Yorkshire coalfield?
§ Mr. MaudlingI gather that there are still engineering difficulties in the process. The briquettes are too brittle and it is difficult to make them at adequate speed to be economic, but, if the National Coal Board can solve these difficulties, I think there are considerable possibilities in this process.
§ Mr. RobertsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we spent £250,000 last year on research, and does he not realise that we ought now to be receiving some of the fruits of that expenditure?
§ Mr. MaudlingResearch is an extremely expensive business. I think that a lot of work has been done on this matter, but it is not easy to find a briquette which is free from the difficulties involved in the traditional briquette.