70 and 71. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he will now confirm the production figures of high grade motor spirit, benzole, of 103 million gallons from the gas and coke oven industry during 1943; if the Government will set a target of 100 million gallons for 1948; and whether the gas and coke oven industries will be encouraged to improve on these previous figures with a view to the consumption in this country of home produced fuel in order to effect a saving of imported petrol;
(2) whether, in view of the maintenance of the coal output production figures, and with a view to the restoration of the basic petrol ration, the Government will consider bringing into use again the plants installed during the war for the extraction of benzole from gas produced by coal carbonisation.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe amount of motor benzole produced in 1943 was not 103 million gallons but 54 million. Production in 1947 was 44 million gallons and some increase in 1948 is expected from the additional amount of coal to be carbonised at the coke ovens. Owing to the shortage of carbonising capacity the scope for increased production of benzole at gas works is extremely limited and in any case neither the coal carbonising capacity nor the benzole recovery plant is available for the production of 100 million gallons in 1948.