§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he is taking to encourage research into commercially viable substitutes for sperm whale oil; and what results have been achieved to date.
§ Mr. David MitchellThrough the garment and allied industries requirements board the Department has funded a study of sperm oil substitutes which the British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association issued as a report in December 1978. The report concluded that considerable work needed to be done before substitutes for all applications of sperm oil would become available in commercial quantities. The Department will continue to encourage the use of substitutes, and projects to develop alternatives may qualify for financial assistance.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Industry which industries are the principal users of sperm whale oil.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe principal user of sperm whale oil is the leather tanning industry. Consumption of sperm oil has declined as substitutes for specific applications have become commercially available.