HC Deb 20 March 1979 vol 964 cc554-5W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what research and development help he is giving British copper, cobalt, manganese and nickel producing companies to enable them to exploit these minerals on the seabed;

(2) what specific help he is giving British companies to develop the technology required to begin mining deep-sea manganese nodule extraction;

(3) what he is doing to ensure that British companies are in a technological and economic position to exploit minerals on the seabed, other than oil and gas; and what impetus he is giving to ensure Great Britain is not left behind in this new, potentially rich industry.

Mr. Alan Williams

In 1975 the Government provided £830,000 to help United Kingdom mining companies participate in an international consortium carrying out research and development into sea bed mining and manganese nodule processing techniques. Seabed mining on a commercial scale is still some years away. Any application by the companies involved—BP Minerals, Consolidated Gold Fields and RTZ—for further financial assistance would be given due consideration.

In the context of the Law of the Sea Conference the Government's aim is to negotiate an international seabed mining regime which, while sharing the benefits and the opportunity to participate among all States, will offer adequate incentives to British companies to undertake sea bed mining projects.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what mineral exploration, other than oil and gas, is currently being undertaken on the seabed around Great Britain; and if he is satisfied that enough is being done to exploit this potential new source of wealth around Great Britain's coast.

Mr. Alan Williams

Because of the possible non-energy mineral potential of the continental shelf my Department is contributing to the cost of an exploration programme currently being carried out by the Institute of Geological Sciences.

In addition, assistance is being given to off-shore operations to assess the viability of the alluvial tin deposits off Cornwall.