HC Deb 02 May 1977 vol 931 cc48-9W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will seek a meeting with representatives of Oil Recovery International, of Christchurch, Dorset, with a view to evaluating the availability and effectiveness of the ocean-going development of their oil-mop device;

(2) if he will ensure that the service provided by Oil Recovery International, of Christchurch, Dorset, is made known both to the oil companies involved in the North Sea, and specifically to the Norwegian Government, in the light of his assurance that he will bring to the attention of the Norwegian Government all the anti-pollution knowledge available in Great Britain.

Mr. Benn

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, on the progress of discussions between his officials and representatives of ORI. I do not think that anything further could be learnt from my meeting them at this stage. Dissemination of information about the specific product is a matter of commercial concern for the company involved, but I understand that there is a regular flow of information between officials at the Warren Spring Laboratory and their Norwegian counterparts about anti-pollution developments in both countries during which the results of the test on the oil-mop will be covered as a matter of course.