48. Mr. Vaneasked the Lord President of the Council what research has been carried out since the war in the design of stoves to burn wood or sawdust; and whether he is satisfied that efficient wood and sawdust burning stoves for heating living rooms or central heating plants are obtainable in this country.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe D.S.I.R. has only done a little work on this subject since 1945. A considerable amount was learnt from work during the war; and132W as a result no great importance is attached to sawdust and waste wood as fuel owing to its comparatively low heating value, high cost of transport, and the small quantity available in unreliable amounts. The research facilities are therefore better devoted to other ways of improving fuel economy and efficiency. Leaflets on the uses for sawdust and shavings have been issued by the Forest Products Research Laboratory of D.S.I.R. and in 1947 the Fuel Research Station issued a review of the scientific and technical literature on the use of sawdust and waste wood as fuel.
In reply to the second part of the Question, I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power that a few appliances for burning wood and sawdust are obtainable in this country, but they have not been tested by D.S.I.R. for ordinary use. The Fuel Research Station of D.S.I.R. is, however, prepared to examine appliances developed by manufacturers for burning waste wood or sawdust for heating living rooms or for central heating installations.