HC Deb 20 December 1934 vol 296 cc1355-6W
Mr. JOEL

asked the Secretary for Mines how many hundredweights of smokeless fuel are obtained from the low-temperature carbonisation of a ton of coal; and what are the comparative radiant heating values of a ton of raw coal and a ton of low-temperature smokeless fuel?

Mr. E. BROWN

The quantity of semi-coke produced from a ton of coal by low-temperature carbonisation varies with the process and the class of coal used. From statistics furnished to my Department it appears that in 1933 the quantity was on

The quantities and values of the undermentioned commodities imported into the United Kingdom during the years stated so far as information is available, are as follows:

1931. 1932. 1933. January to October, 1934.
Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value.
Cwt. £ Cwt. £ Cwt. £ Cwt. £
Broccoli and Cauliflowers. (e) (e) 251,802 190,612 168,125 103,881 148,807 110,678
Carrots (e) (e) (a) 109,753 (a) 84,102 293,223 139,604 192,383 107,306
Cabbage (e) (e) (b) 25,957 (b) 7,101 (d) 12,166 (d) 2,895 (e) (e)
Green Beans. (e) (e) 14,493 47,500 8,804 36,466 10,871 36,091
Brussels Sprouts. (e) (e) (b) 1,609 (b) 1,572 (d) 14 (d) 7 (e) (e)
Cucumbers (e) (e) 28,685 50,006 20,165 20,696 9,641 19,078
Salads (e) (e) 155,963 363,443 186,373 335,321 176,774 375,747
Turnips (e) (e) (c) 1,712 (c) 3,122 1,730 3,085 2,970 4,183
Tomatoes 2,936,436 4,563,718 2,432,115 4,311,069 2,902,897 4,318,603 2,403,855 4,031,244
Bushels. Bushels. Bushels. Bushels.
Onions 10,170,550 1,756,018 10,040,074 1,837,217 10,111,446 1,241,508 8,392,291 1,066,208
Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt.
Green Peas (e) (e) 17,198 42,661 9,905 27,287 14,947 39,612
(a) April to December, 1932. (b) March to December, 1932. (c) April to June and September to December, 1932. (d) January to June, 1933. (e) Not available.

the average about 14.0 cwts. As regards the second part of the question, it is difficult to make a comparison of the radiant efficiencies of a ton of raw coal and a ton of low-temperature semi-coke, owing to the different coals and cokes and the varying conditions under which fuels are burned. In suitable conditions a good low-temperature smokeless fuel should radiate not less than 25 per cent. more heat than an equal weight of good household coal. My hon. Friend will find a good deal of information in regard to this matter in certain publications issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, a list of which I am sending to him.

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