§ Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is in a position to add to his answer of 10 March concerning the programme of work of the reconvened coal industry tripartite research and development working party and the possibility that it will publish a report of its findings.
§ Mr. John MooreThe working party has now met twice under my chairmanship, and we plan to meet about once a month until the end of the year. These meetings will consider a wide range of coal R & D topics, including oil-from-coal, gasification for synthesis gas and for low Btu gas, pyrolysis, fluidised bed combustion and unconventional methods of extracting coal or coal energy, and we shall also be taking into account environmental aspects. Where appropriate, other interested organisations, such as the CEGB, will be invited to participate in the meetings. I also hope it will be possible for the working party to visit installations where coal conversion or utilisation R & D is being carried out.
The working party expects to publish a report on its findings and I hope that this will be available early next year.