§ 26. Mr. Ian Gilmourasked the Minister of Power whether he will arrange for Government Departments to install coal-burning heating systems in their establishments when the need for new heating systems arises.
§ 33. Mr. Varleyasked the Minister of Power if he will seek to arrange for the installation of solid-fuel heating systems in Government Departments when the need for new heating systems arises.
§ The Minister of Power (Mr. Frederick Lee)I ask the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to wait for a statement I hope to make soon on behalf of the Government.
§ Mr. GilmourWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he will withstand all pressures from behind him to install anything but the most modern heating systems in Government Departments?
§ Mr. LeeI do not think the hon. Gentleman should take it for granted that coal would not provide the most modern system.
§ Mr. VarleyWill my right hon. Friend take note that many of us on this side would like him to disregard what we consider to be the hysterical opposition to the coal industry by Members opposite? Will the question of coal-burning apparatus and its installation and co-ordination in Government Departments be considered by the Advisory Council which he has set up?
§ Mr. LeeI am looking more to the short-term aspect of this matter. I assure my hon. Friend that the Government are very active on this, and I hope to be able to make a statement very soon indeed.
§ Mr. PeytonWill the right hon. Gentleman take careful note of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, which was not what he appeared to think it was?