asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the problems associated with the development of processes to produce synthetic natural gas from coal in the United Kingdom; and what steps are being taken to prevent contamination of the catalysts involved in the processes by sulphur and the emission of undesirable gases into the environment.

British Gas informs me that processes being developed by it for able only on an annual basis. The following are the latest available details:the production of SNG from coal will not result in emission of any undesirable gases into the environment. I shall ask the Chairman of the Corporation to write to the hon. Member about the development of these processes.