§ MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Ben Nevis Observatory is to be closed in October from want of funds; and whether, considering the valuable meteorological observations that have been taken there continuously during the last 15 years, he will, by increased grant or otherwise, secure the permanent maintenance of this, the only highland observatory in the United Kingdom?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The Ben Nevis Observatory has never been directly subsidised by money voted by Parliament, but a sum of £15,300 is annually voted for meteorological research, and paid to the Meteorological Council, who distribute it as seems best suited to attain the purposes for which it is voted. A grant of £350 has annually been made by this Council to 1309 Ben Nevis Observatory, and it is open to them, if they think lit, to increase the grant; but I do not think it advisable that Parliament should make a separate grant to Ben Nevis Observatory.
§ MR. BUCHANANIs it not a fact that before a fixed sum was given for distribution the grant to this institution varied from year to year; and cannot a larger sum be given to maintain this, the only high-level observatory in the United Kingdom?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERNo, I do not think so; £15,300 is a good deal to vote for private institutions, and if the Meteorological Council do not care to devote more than £350 of that sum to the Ben Nevis Observatory, but prefer to devote it to other purposes, I cannot help it.