HC Deb 14 May 1959 vol 605 c188W
Mr. Robens

asked the Paymaster-General if he will state the total amount spent from nationalisation to date by the Gas Council and Gas Boards on research in the gasification of coal.

Sir I. Horobin

Expenditure on research into the gasification of coal since vesting date amounts to nearly £1¼million. In addition the Gas Council has undertaken the construction of a new type of high pressure gasification plant on a commercial scale at an estimated expenditure of some £5 million. In order to solve chemical engineering problems this plant will be used initially to gasify oil but in its final development it is planned to gasify small coal.