§ 113. Mr. H. Fraserasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can give an estimate of what alleviation the coke oven and coal distillation plants of the coal industry could give to the impending sulphur shortage.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerThe amount of sulphur at present recovered from treating coal gas from coke oven and coal carbonisation plant is approximately 100,000 tons a year. It is estimated that if that part of the coal gas derived from coke ovens and coal carbonisation plants which is now used without purification, were treated for the recovery of sulphur, the additional sulphur so obtained would be about 50,000 tons per annum. The cost would, however, be very high.
These figures relate to all coke oven and coal carbonisation plants, including those at gas works and not only to those of the coal industry. To obtain separate figures for the coal industry alone would involve a great deal of labour, which, as I think the hon. Member will agree, it would not be justifiable to undertake.