HC Deb 09 November 1959 vol 613 cc19-20
29. Mr. Oram

asked the Minister of Power what general direction he has given to the Gas Council about increasing the import of liquid methane.

The Minister of Power (Mr. Richard Wood)

I have given no such direction.

Mr. Oram

Is the Minister aware that some time ago the chairman of the Gas Council was talking of a plan for an increase in the import of liquid methane? Is he also aware that workers in the vast Becton gas works in East Ham and Barking have already expressed uneasiness at the prospect of redundancy in this connection? When the right hon. Gentleman considers this matter, will he keep in mind ensuring the steady employment of existing gas workers as one important consideration among others?

Mr. Wood

I will certainly bear this and a lot of other things in mind when the Gas Council makes proposals to me, but I understand it has not done so yet and is not expected to do so for a little while.

Mr. Slater

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that something should be done to stop liquid methane coming into this country and setting it against good gas coal produced in the North-East, which the North-East has been depending on selling to the gas undertakings of this country? Why allow liquid methane to come in?

Mr. Wood

As I said to the hon. Gentleman's hon. Friend, I will certainly take that kind of consideration into account, but it would be fair to remember that the effect of increased imports of liquid methane might not be so inimical to the hon. Gentleman's interests as at the moment he thinks they would be.

Miss Lee

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that the basis of the discontent on this side of the House and in the coalfields is that to many people it seems economic lunacy to consider gas, coal or oil in isolation? When shall we have a plan from the Government so that the workers in the various industries—gas, mining and oil—will know to what future they can look forward?

Mr. Wood

One of the hon. Lady's hon. Friends has a Question down on exactly that point later.

Mr. Mason

Does not the Minister think there is a dangerous tendency for our economy to become too dependent upon the importation of oil and liquid methane? Will he, as one of his prime tasks as a new Minister, take upon himself the job of bringing together the chairmen of the fuel and power industries with a view to planning our fuel requirements from our own sources?

Mr. Wood

I think that that goes a little wide of the Question, which is about liquid methane. I shall be answering a Question about a national fuel policy later on.