§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of the total sperm oil produced by the whaling industry is represented by the 8,500 metric tons imported in 1976; why it is increasing; and what steps are being taken to reduce it.
§ Mr. Cryer,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th July 1977; Vol. 936, c. 20], gave the following information:
Precise figures are difficult to arrive at in this world-wide industry, but I understand that the United Kingdom imported about one-sixth of all the sperm oil produced by the whaling industry in 188W 1976. The long-term trend in imports of sperm oil is not, however, an increasing one. The Secretary of State for Trade provided figures to the hon. Member on 25th April which showed that there had been a steady decline in imports of sperm oil since 1970; in that year 14,341 metric tons had been imported. Whilst the 8,528 metric tons imported in 1976 represented a slight increase on the previous year this was regarded as exceptional. Figures for the first half of this year show that 2,887 metric tons of sperm oil were imported to the United Kingdom. If a similar level is maintained throughout the remainder of the year, 1977 imports will be lower than at any time this decade.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will prohibit the importation of sperm oil: and what steps are being taken to find a substitute for sperm oil.
§ Mr. Cryer,pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 25th July 1977, Vol. 936, c. 20], gave the following information:
No, since to do so would cause serious empolyment losses and damage to exports in those industries dependent upon sperm oil in their manufacturing process.
Vigorous steps are being taken to find substitutes for the oil's many industrial applications, and these have enjoyed some success in the engineering sector. As yet, however, no substitute has been found for sperm oil in the leather industry, one of the major users.
My Department is keeping in touch with the British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association, which has for some time been active in the search for substitute oils. This association prepared the report, commissioned by the Department of Industry, entitled "The Utilisation of Sperm Oil by the Leather Industry"—a copy of which is available in the Library of the House—which high lighted the difficulties companies in the leather industry would face in finding substitutes for sperm oil. Officials of my Department are encouraging a coordinated approach to research into substitutes, and to this end my Department has commissioned the British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association to carry out a further programme of research into the properties and use of sperm oil in the leather industry as an initial 189W attempt at obtaining substitutes. I hope these developments will be pursued with vigour and urgency.