§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will indicate the progress made into research into substitutes for sperm oil with the support of his Department; and when a report will be published.
§ Mr. CryerFor some time now my Department has been involved in promoting research into substitutes for sperm 341W oil. In 1975 my Department commissioned the British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association to carry out a study into the properties of sperm oil and its application in the leather industry, culminating in the publication of a report in July 1976 entitled "The Utilisation of Sperm Oil in the Leather Industry", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons' Library. My Department is now funding through the Garments and Allied Industries Requirements Board a further BLMRA study on sperm oil and available substitutes; its final report is due this autumn.