§ 18. Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Power what information he has about the proportion of helium in each of the natural gas fields discovered in the North Sea; and if he will undertake a study to ascertain the probable cost of extracting this helium, and the potential market for it in cryogenic laboratories.
§ Mr. FreesonAll natural gas supplies in the North Sea contain a very small proportion of helium. Detailed information is reported to me by the licensees, but it is confidential. With regard to the second part, I am looking into this with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology.
§ Mr. LubbockI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Does he appreciate that all the liquid helium used in cryogenic laboratories must be imported from the United States and Canada and that, if it were feasible to extract the material from the North Sea, we would achieve a substantial import saving?
§ Mr. FreesonThe point is taken, but on present information—I stress those words—the cost of extracting helium from the North Sea would, it seems, be more expensive than our present imports.