§ Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary for Mines if his Department has conducted any inquiry during the past 14 months into the process of the Turner method of the treatment of coal, with a view to an improvement in the conditions of the miners and, if so, with what result; and if any representations have been made to his Department on this subject and, if so, by whom?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI have received representations concerning the Turner low temperature carbonisation process from several quarters. As my hon. Friend was informed in reply to a question on this subject which he asked on 19th November last, the Director of Fuel Research had carried out a test of the plant under the published schemes for testing such plants—a report of which has since been issued—and that arrangements were being made for a further test of a special feature of this plant. There bas been seine difficulty in concluding these arrangements, but the matter has recently been discussed by me with Mr. Turner and representatives of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and as a result, I hope that arrangements will now he completed for carrying out the further test.