§ 27. Mr. Nealasked the Paymaster-General whether the plant at Newman Spinney is to be abandoned; and what change has been made in policy respecting experiments in underground gasification.
§ Sir I. HorobinYes, Sir. The National Coal Board has decided to wind up experimental work at Newman Spinney on the ground that sufficient results have been obtained to lead it to the view that the commercial prospects of underground gasification do not justify further expenditure at the present time.
§ Mr. NealCan the Parliamentary Secretary say why it has taken his Department 10 years and the expenditure of £1¾ million before discovering that underground gasification is not a worthwhile proposition, and how does he reconcile his Answer with the statement made by his noble Friend in another place on 21st January to the effect that in two or three weeks' time we should see electricity being generated at Newman Spinney?
§ Sir I. HorobinIn the first place, of course, this is primarily a Coal Board matter. A long-term experiment of this kind must, in all the circumstances, be accepted. The Coal Board has come to the conclusion, in which my noble Friend concurs, that it is very necessary to have a priority in these cases, and this is now no longer considered sufficiently encouraging to warrant any farther expense there. There are more profitable lines of research opening out to us.