Mr. StephenRoss asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations have been carried out into the possible effects on the climatic cycle by excessive oil spillage on the oceans of the world which might alter the natural evaporation rate.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe Report of the 1970 Study on Critical Environmental Problems, which was sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and involved more than 70 participating scientists, concluded that evaporation from the sea was reduced only in the immediate region of oil spills, and that the areas so affected were insignificant in size. I understand that the Meteorological Office is not aware of any new evidence which would cast doubt on this conclusion.