§ Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Fuel and Power to make a further statement about the transfer of underground gasification work to the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesYes. I told the House on 4th June, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend that the National Coal Board and the Central Electricity Authority had accepted responsibility, within their respective spheres, for the planning and construction of a pilot plant and for exploring the possibility of exploiting underground gasification on a commercial scale. In accordance with these arrangements, the existing experimental work, together with most of the staff engaged on it, was transferred on 1st July and the Board became responsible for the payment of salaries and other contractual liabilities. Equipment and stores at the two existing sites were also transferred at the same time, in consideration of a payment by the Board of £10,000. It is not possible to estimate the market value of this equipment, but the Board had contributed towards the cost of much of it at an earlier stage, and my Ministry's interest in the transferred items,84W taken at book value, was approximately £20,000. The Board has today issued a public announcement about the progress of its activities, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.