HC Deb 18 November 1953 vol 520 cc1695-6
1. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when the Government of the United States of America informed Her Majesty's Government of their intention to withdraw their ships from the International North Atlantic Weather Service; and what representations were made to the United States Government, in view of the effect this will have on the accuracy of the Meteorological Office's weather forecasts.

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. George Ward)

The United States' decision not to subscribe to any Ocean Weather Ship Agreement after 30th June, 1954, when the present Agreement expires, was communicated to International Civil Aviation Organisation on 21st October, 1953. The United Kingdom representative at I.C.A.O., in common with the representatives of other interested Governments, was given a copy of the American Note on the same day. Our representative has already expressed to the Council our concern that the United States' decision may affect the regularity and economy of North Atlantic civil operations.

Mr. de Freitas

Is it not really very serious that we were given no prior notice that this withdrawal would take place? Is it not a fact that the Government have not made sufficiently strong representations, when we consider the disastrous effect that this may have on weather forecasting and the great blow that it is to the whole principle of international co-operation in science?

Mr. Ward

The United States, of course, had no obligation to consult us in this matter. She did in fact notify her decision informally to the British Civil Air Attaché in Washington on the day before she handed her Note to our representative. I agree that the United States' action may well have a serious effect.

Mr. A. Henderson

In view of the undoubted importance of this weather ships information, both as regards civil aviation and shipping in the North Atlantic, is the hon. Gentleman's Department considering having this matter raised and discussed at Ministerial level? Has the hon. Gentleman considered the suggestion made the other day that, if necessary, the Prime Minister himself should seek an opportunity to discuss this very important problem with President Eisenhower direct?

Mr. Ward

Yes, Sir. This matter is already being discussed at Ministerial level and we have all these considerations very much in mind. We shall, of course, shortly be putting forward through the United Kingdom representative at I.C.A.O., and in consultation with other European Governments concerned, proposals about the continuance of the Ocean Weather Ships Scheme, but, as I told my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Air Commodore Harvey) the other day, we cannot do that until we have made an intensive study of the implications and have had discussions with other Governments concerned.

Brigadier Prior-Palmer

Would my hon. Friend agree that the withdrawal of these ships will have an adverse effect on weather forecasting and will affect our fishing fleets round our coasts very much?

Mr. Ward

The information that we can put out to shipping generally is liable to be less accurate, but we must bear in mind that the main gap will be on the farther side of the Atlantic and not on this side.