HC Deb 21 January 1937 vol 319 cc357-9W
Mr. L. Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines the approximate tonnage and value of the hydrocarbon oils produced by the Billingham hydrogenation plant at world-market prices; and what has been the approximate tonnage and value of the coal purchased for processing?

Dr. Burgin

I have been asked to reply. As regards the tonnage of hydrocarbon oils produced and the tonnage of coal used at the hydrogenation plant at Billingham during the year 1936, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. and gallant Friend gave on the 19th January to two questions by the hon. Member for the Springburn Division of Glasgow' (Mr. Hardie). He is not able to supply the rest of the information asked for.

Mr. Edwards

asked the Lord President of the Council what were the results of the tests made by the fuel research station into the Freeman process of extracting oil from coal?

Mr. R. MacDonald

Under its published scheme, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research conducted extended tests from June, 1925, until the dismantling of the plant in November, 1925, upon a Freeman multiple retort belonging to British Oil and Fuel Conservation, Limited. The report was published in 1926.

I should like to take this opportunity to say that in March of last year, the directors of Coal-Oil Development (Great Britain), Limited, accorded facilities to officers of the Department to witness a demonstration of their apparatus employing the Freeman process. The apparatus at present, however, is only on a laboratory scale, which does not permit of a test being made within the scope of the Department's published scheme. No question of publication of a report therefore arises. At the demonstration the officers checked various measurements and removed sundry samples for examination at the Fuel Research Station. Their measurements and observations were subsequently communicated orally to a director of Coal-Oil Development (Great Britain), Limited.

My attention has since peen drawn to a printed statement by this director that the demonstration was an official test and that the observations proved conclusively that the company's claims for its process had been established. The statement is not in either particular in accordance with the facts, and the director responsible has been asked for an assurance that he will refrain from any further publication thereof.