§ 12. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Paymaster-General to what extent the recent experimental import of liquefied gas has proved successful.
§ The Paymaster-General (Mr. Reginald Maudling)The first cargo of liquefied gas has been shipped across the Atlantic and discharged into storage tanks without incident, but at least two or three more trial voyages may be necessary before the technical and economic possibilities can be fully assessed.
§ Mr. RobertsIf the test of this gas is successful, what effect will it have upon our own coal mining industry?
§ Mr. MaudlingIf the importation of gas is successful, in the long term it should provide a much cheaper source of gas for the consumer. It should not, however, impede the new methods of developing the gasification of small coal.
§ Mr. ChetwyndCan the right hon. Gentleman give some idea of the cost of doing this? Is it really necessary at this time to go ahead with it?
§ Mr. MaudlingThis is an exciting and encouraging new experiment. The cost of the experiment to the gas industry is, I understand, to be £1½ million, which is its share of the project, the rest being provided by the American interests concerned.