Mr. Philips Priceasked the Paymaster-General whether, in view of the surplus of small coal in the country and the shortage of processed smokeless fuel required by the consuming public, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to accelerate research work on the problem of how to utilise small coal for the new processed type.
§ Sir I. HorobinNo. The National Coal Board is aware of the need to develop improved types of smokeless fuel for commercial production and a general direction would not serve a useful purpose.