§ 22. Sir J. Duncanasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what general directions he has given to the British Transport Commission regarding the testing of new inventions, with the object of increasing operational efficiency.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNone, Sir. The British Transport Commission's active programme of study and development includes testing for this purpose.
§ Sir J. DuncanIs my right hon. Friend aware that an Austrian firm has offered free of charge a new invention for locomotives which is claimed not only to increase the efficiency of the locomotive, but to make it able to consume qualities of coal which are in surplus at the present time? Will he ask the British Transport Commission to have a look at this invention, because, up to now, the Commission has flatly refused to consider it?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThat is not my information. I have looked into this myself, and I think that considerable examination of this matter has been made. One difficulty is that it is suitable only for steam locomotives, and no more steam locomotives are being built.