HC Deb 31 July 1899 vol 75 cc855-7
MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will take steps to prevent the closing of the Ben Nevis Observatory, which has been announced for next October, in view of the fact that it is the only high-level observatory in the United Kingdom, and that valuable scientific results have been, obtained from the observations carried on. there.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I think that this question has been answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary to the Treasury twice in the course of the present session, and I have nothing to add to their answers. I may remind the hon. Member that it is primarily a question for the Meteorological Society, to which the Government give a large contribution, rather than for the Exchequer.

MR. BUCHANAN

But is it not the case that a new question has arisen in the fact that this high level observatory will be discontinued in October unless money is forthcoming?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have heard this statement made, and I have no reason to doubt its truth. But, unless my memory fails me, the facts are these The Government have given more than £15,000 for the purpose of meteorological observation. This money is given to a society which is supposed to, and does, expend it to the best advantage in the three kingdoms. If that society holds; as they appear to do, that a high-level observatory is not of sufficient importance to make it necessary to spend out of the £15,000 a few hundreds more in order to keep that station open, it appears to be a. matter for it to decide rather than for the Exchequer, which, after all, cannot be regarded as authorities in meteorological investigation.

COMMANDER BETHELL (Yorkshire, E. R., Holderness)

Is it impossible to give a few hundreds in order to keep this, important station open?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

that is just my point. If the society responsible for this £15,000 a year do not think that this observatory is of sufficient importance to justify their spending out of that money the necessary sum for the upkeep of that station, it does not appear to me to be a case in which the Government can interfere.

MR. PIRIE) (Aberdeen, N.

Is it not the case that if this observatory were situated in England instead of being in Scotland—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!