HC Deb 21 May 1996 vol 278 c167W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the detergents used in the clean up operations following oil spills in the River Mersey from 1980 up to the latest spill; and if he will list each detergent's constituent chemical elements. [29716]

Mr. Clappison

[holding answer 20 May 1996]: I understand that neither North West Water Authority nor the National Rivers Authority used detergents as a dispersant in incidents of this kind. It is possible that other bodies may have made limited use of detergents. If this is the case, I shall write to the hon. Member with the relevant information.