§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the quality of gas in London has considerably depreciated by the extraction of benzol, and by reason of the presence of an undue proportion of incombustibles; and, inasmuch as the extraction of benzol is no longer necessary for munition purposes, whether he will take steps to secure for the benefit of consumers a return in this respect to pre-war conditions?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe question of the conditions of gas supply in the Metropolis and elsewhere has been carefully considered by the Board of Trade, and they have come to the conclusion that as these conditions are still in many respects abnormal it is impracticable to require gas undertakers to revert at once to pre-war standards. The Board have accordingly suggested to the local authorities throughout the country that until the end of June next proceedings should not be taken in respect of deficiencies in the calorific power of gas so long as the calorific power does not fall below 450 B.Th.U. and so long as the proportion of inert constituents in the gas is not excessive.