§ Mr. MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is liaising with the department of chemical engineering at Bath university over research into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls;
(2) if he will fund research being carried out by the department of chemical engineering at Bath university into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls.
§ Mr. TrippierThere are no formal liaison arrangements with the department of chemical engineering at Bath university on research into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls. Officials in my Department are aware of the work going on there and Professor Thomas is on the mailing list for the environmental protection technology scheme which the Department funds. I am not aware of any recent approach by the university to fund the research being carried out there, but I am happy to consider, in the usual way, any research proposals which the university cares to make.