§ 6. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of Technology what research is being done by his Department into the problem of oil pollution of Great Britain's beaches; and what results are now available for immediate, practical application.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Mr. Gerald Fowler)Research, co-ordinated by the Warren Spring Laboratory, is in progress on removing oil from beaches, the sinking of oil at sea, the use of booms to protect estuaries, and the problems of burning oil in a wrecked tanker. Two thousand copies of the Warren Spring Laboratory's recommendations on beach cleaning have been sent to all coastal local authorities, and several demonstrations have been given.
§ Mrs. ShortI am much obliged to my hon. Friend for that reply. I am glad to know that research establishments under his Department are contributing to the solution of this horrible problem. Can he give an assurance that the members of staff employed by his research establishments are not in any way inhibited from producing solutions of their own and have an opportunity of presenting those solutions to him?
§ Mr. FowlerNo such inhibitions exist.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeThe list which the hon. Gentleman has given is a great deal shorter than that contained in Appendix 33 to the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology. Will he consider giving an up-to-date report on the progress made on the various projects listed in that Appendix?
§ Mr. FowlerThe rule for length of Parliamentary Answers is different from that covering appendices to Reports by Select Committees, but I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. Carter-JonesDoes my hon. Friend agree that possibly the best research to prevent pollution would be a spot of research into those responsible for it?
§ Mr. FowlerThat is a question for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.