§ 21. Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Power what study he has made of the coal to oil conversion scheme planned in Southern Illinois, United States of America, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonI am making inquiries about a recent Press report to which my hon. Friend has referred and will write to him. Meanwhile I have nothing to add to the reply given him on 21st March.[Vol. 743, c. 219.]
§ Mr. EadieIs my hon. Friend aware that the Answer which he has just given will give satisfaction to some hon. Members on this side and that the fact that he will undertake an investigation will, I am sure, do something to give a much-needed encouragement to morale in the mining industry?
§ Mr. FreesonI thank my hon. Friend for those comments. In all fairness, however, one must be careful. We have, at this stage at least, no further information to add to the recommendation in 1960 of the Committee on Coal Derivatives which indicated that the prospects of making oil from coal economically in this country were not particularly good.