§ 20. Mr. Dalyellasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what long-term studies are being conducted of the way in which minerals are extracted and concentrated by marine life; and what communications he has had with industry on this subject.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethResearch has been carried out for many years at marine laboratories in the United Kingdom, and particularly at the Plymouth Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association, on the concentration by marine animals and plants of the chemical constituents of sea water, including at the present time caesium, potassium, sodium, zinc and manganese, and in recent years strontium, iodine, niobium and vanadium. I have had no communications with industry on this subject.
§ Mr. DalyellDoes not the hon. Member agree that the vanadium aspect is extremely important industrially? What can he do to bring this to the notice of industry?
§ Mr. FreethAt present most of the research is of a very basic nature, but if industry believes that there is a commercial proposition here, I have no doubt that it will have noted the hon. Member's Question and my Answer.
§ Mr. DribergCan the hon. Member say whether this research covers the effect upon oysters of hot, chlorinated and slightly radioactive effluent from nuclear power stations?
§ Mr. FreethPerhaps the hon. Member would be good enough to put down a Question on that point. My interest in oysters would preclude me from giving an answer off the cuff.