§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what findings from research into the "Torrey Canyon" disaster can be used to prevent or minimise any future repetition; and what preparations he has made to safeguard against the consequences of any recurrence.
§ Mr. GreenwoodResearch is being undertaken under the direction of several of my right hon. Friends into a number of matters including methods of firing oil in stranded tankers and on the sea, the effect of natural factors on the movement, dispersal and destruction of oil at sea, the use of substances for sinking, scavenging and gelling oil, and the development of more effective but less toxic detergents. We hope that findings 349W in all these fields will eventually help to prevent or minimise pollution.
I have been discussing with the local authority associations ways of improving the local organisation to deal with oil pollution. On steps being taken internationally, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Board of Trade, to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on the 19th March.—[Vol. 761, c. 83–4.]