§ Major BRAITHWAITEasked the Prime Minister in view of the important developments in fuel research, if the Government will consider the advisability of granting special financial facilities for the erecton of plants for the production of oil from coal?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the machinery of the Trade Facilities Act, I would refer him to the statement made on the 1st December by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to a question by my Noble Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck). I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Government are already making a substantial contribution towards research in these matters, both on the scientific and the commercial side. As soon as any process or processes are shown to be commercially practicable, I have no doubt that private enterprise will develop them without the necessity for any financial assistance from the State.