§ Captain Kerbyasked the Paymaster-General the national production of methane gas from sewage; and what action he is taking to increase the supply of power and heat by extraction of methane gas from sewage.
§ Mr. MaudlingI regret that national figures for the production of methane gas from sewage are not available. A number of schemes for the utilisation of methane produced at large sewage works have been sanctioned in recent years and, subject to present limitations on capital6W investment, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is prepared to consider similar schemes on their merits. The maximum contribution which sewage gas could make to our national fuel supplies, however, would be unlikely to exceed one tenth of one per cent. of present requirements.