HC Deb 20 November 1970 vol 806 c503W
Mr. Laurance Reed

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department is giving to studies directed towards the economic recovery of minerals from sea water especially as a by-product of freshwater production.

Mr. Ridley

None at present. Experimental work by the Atomic Energy Authority on extraction of uranium from sea water (referred to in paragraph 192 of the Authority's Annual Report for 1969–70) has now been terminated. Some other minerals are already extracted from sea water by commercial processes.