§ Mr. MACMASTERasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent gas companies have been prejudiced by the Government commandeering the gas residuals; whether the price paid by the Government for the gas residuals is so much with reference to quantity or measure; if so, what is the standard price; and how does that standard price paid by the Government compare with the price at which residuals might be sold by the company in the open market?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply to this question. The Government buy certain of the products obtained from gas residuals. The prices given for the most important of these are as follows:
- Toluene, 3s. 4½d. per gallon.
- Standard Benzol, from 10¾d. to 1s. 0½d. per gallon.
- Pure Benzol, from 1s. 6d. to 1s. 7d. per gallon.
- Creosote, 75s. per ton minimum, varying prices up to 103s. per ton being allowed for certain grades.
Buying and selling of these substances in the open market is not permitted; therefore no comparison of prices is possible.