asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will arrange for and publish a report from his officials on the apparent failure of the performance of the dispersant spraying operation at the"Christos Bitas"oil spill; and if he will make a statement.

We published an account of the"Christos Bitas"operation on 27th November, which includes a section on the efficiency of the dispersants used. This operation was very successful, first in that the great bulk of the oil remaining aboard that tanker was pumped of, and second in that dispersant spraying prevented the greater part of the oil that was spilled from coming ashore.