§ Mr. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any of the low-temperature carbonisation and hydrogenation companies have published any balance-sheets showing whether any of the undertakings have proved profitable?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI understand that some 10 or 11 companies engaged in working low-temperature carbonisation processes on a commercial or semi-commercial scale have issued accounts, but so far as I am aware none of these has paid a dividend on ordinary share2416W capital. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that it is only in recent times that these processes have begun to be worked on a commercial scale, and in this connection I would refer him to pages 36 and 37 of the last annual report of the Fuel Research Board, a copy of which is in the Library. In regard to hydrogenation no company, so far as I am aware, is yet working this process on a commercial scale.