§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the effect of adding 10 to 15 per cent. of either ethyl or methyl alcohol to petrol in the United Kingdom and the impact on the price of the product.
§ Mr. GrayPetrol containing up to 10 per cent. ethyl alcohol would give a satisfactory performance in current motor vehicles; however, problems in engine performance would start to occur at concentrations above that level. Similar problems using methyl alcohol would start at levels below 10 per cent. In all cases the energy content of the blends would be less than that of petrol.
The costs of the blends would depend on the source of the alcohols, but, in general terms ethyl alcohol is more expensive than petrol, whilst methyl alcohol is cheaper.