§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Government propose to erect a factory for the manufacture of acetone in the Forest of Dean, and, if so, whether such factory will be erected this year?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Treasury have provisionally sanctioned a proposal by the Commissioners of Woods to establish a factory in Dean Forest for the distillation of wood. The principal product will be acetate of lime, from which acetone is manufactured by a further refining process, which is carried on elsewhere. It is not at present proposed to undertake the manufacture of acetone in the Forest, but the works are so designed that the necessary additions to enable the acetone process to be carried out may be added without difficulty hereafter should it be deemed desirable. Plans are in active preparation with the view of erecting the works this year, but no date can yet be fixed for completion.