HC Deb 03 November 1969 vol 790 c23W
Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give the names and nature of each of the inventions during the last year for distributing oil slicks at sea and for preventing their reaching and spoiling British seaside resorts, with special reference to the relevant inventions made by Imperial Chemical Industries and the Shell Company.

Dr. Ernest A. Davies

has a patent pending (Application No. 20589/67) dealing with the formulation and use of Dispersol OS, a dispersing agent for use against oil slicks at sea. The Shell Company has carried out a great deal of development work on the use of amine-treated sand dispersed from a sea-going dredger. There have been no other individual inventions of note but research in the Government establishments and in industry continues and many suggestions from members of the public have also been evaluated.