§ Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary for Mines what work is being done at the present time in connection with scientific research concerning the mining industry; and what change and advance have taken place since the publication of the report of the Royal Commission on the mines?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe progress made in the work of utilisation of coal is detailed in the published reports of the Fuel Research Board, a list of which I sent to the hon. Member recently. The net annual expenditure on fuel research provided in the Vote of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is now nearly double what it was six years ago. The physical and chemical survey of the national coal resources now covers the principal coalfields; increased attention is being given to coal cleaning, the use of pulverised fuel and the hydrogenation of coal, while work on carbonisation steadily continues. As regards the winning of coal, research is undertaken by the British Colliery Owners' Research Association, and so far as I am aware there have been no substantial changes in it since the Royal Commission reported.