HC Deb 22 June 1978 vol 952 cc312-4W
46. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what research his Department is doing into the development of the jojoba plant and its properties as a substitute for sperm whale oil.

Mr. Cryer

Jojoba oil is currently undergoing analysis as part of a research programme being carried out on behalf of the Garment and Allied Industries' Requirements Board, and funded by my Department. The purpose of this study is to characterise the properties of sperm oil and to examine the potential of possible substitutes, including jojoba. The board expects the results of the research programme to be available later this year.

Regrettably, experts in the United States and Israel, who are working on development of the shrub as a domestic crop, all agree that it will be many years before the pre-harvest problems associated with domestic jojoba cultivation can be overcome. Nevertheless, when jojoba oil can be produced in bulk as a viable alternative to sperm oil, it is likely to have a significant industrial role to play. Meanwhile, with only minute quan-

NET INWARD DIRECT INVESTMENT IN ALL INDUSTRIES OTHER THAN OIL AND INSURANCE
£million
1973 1974 1975 1976
Belgium and Luxembourg 25.1 5.1 13.3 11.6
Denmark 3.2 1.6 8.0 18.2
France 27.1 23.7 36.8 78.2
Germany 16.7 33.3 11.4 33.2
Irish Republic 4.7 -6.8 32.6 37.5
Italy 16.8 5.5 1.1 10.9
Netherlands 16.8 10.0 -1.3 -31.0
Totals 110.4 72.4 101.8 158.7

NET OUTWARD DIRECT INVESTMENT OVERSEAS BY UNITED KINGDOM COMPANIES OTHER THAN OIL COMPANIES
£million
1973 1974 1975 1976
Belgium and Luxembourg 64.2 49.0 31.6 84.9
Denmark 9.2 23.2 8.8 4.7
France 118.7 73.4 68.1 78.6
Germany, Federal Republic of 149.2 108.3 53.2 176.4
Irish Republic 46.2 49.5 24.2 40.0
Italy 26.5 25.4 -20.4 38.6
Netherlands 104.9 35.1 -14.4 66.3
Totals 519.0 364.0 151.0 489.5

The Invest in Britain Bureau of the Department of Industry will continue its overseas campaign to promote foreign manufacturing investment in the United Kingdom. The campaign is being steadily intensified and, in addition to regular visiting of prospective investors, has involved 18 investment seminars in Europe in the last two years. Four more are planned this year as well as inward missions for foreign industrialists and economic journalists.

tities of the oil from wild jojoba crops available on the world market, selling at between 10 and 15 times the price of sperm oil, my Department can only ensure that enough is known of jojoba's possibilities for industry to take full advantage of the oil's potential when it becomes available in commercial quantities.

Back to