§ 14. Mr. Braineasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been made by the Fuel Research section of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in finding efficient means of utilising small coal.
§ Mr. H. NichollsThe British Coal Utilisation Research Association, which is supported by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, has shown that with proper mechanical firing equipment the efficiency of use of small coal in shell-type boilers can be high. Further research and development on automatic handling and control are now in progress, in association with the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. BraineCan my hon. Friend say whether any other bodies are engaged in this research and whether any attempt is being made to learn from the experience of other countries where briquetting is used on a large scale? Can he give the House an assurance that all concerned in this research are seized of the urgency of the matter, in view of the vast quantities there are of unsaleable small coal?
§ Mr. NichollsI have no doubt that my lion. Friend's Question will be brought to the attention of the people most directly concerned. I can tell him that the National Coal Board is developing work for making briquettes from small coal. The Gas Council is doing long-term research and the Ministry of Power 990 are sponsoring research by the British Coal Utilisation Research Association.