HC Deb 20 June 1935 vol 303 cc560-1
83. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the present position with regard to the "Discovery" investigation of the whaling industry in the Antarctic; what has been the result up to date; what funds still remain in the Falkland Islands Research and Development Fund; and how long the work is expected to last?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)

The "Discovery" Committee are engaged on a number of researches primarily connected with Antarctic whaling, and a mass of useful material has already been collected bearing on the distribution of the whale population and its relation to its environment. Further work is, however, required. The Royal Research Ship "Discovery II" will, therefore, be re-commissioned in the autumn for a further cruise of about 20 months, and it is anticipated that thereafter a period of about five years will be required to complete the working up and publication of the results of the investigations. At the last valuation of investments on the 31st December, 1934, the balance standing to the credit of the Research and Development Fund was approximately £380,000.