§ 21. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, whether paragraph 19 of the Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, relating to oceanography, has been studied by his Department; and whether any new developments are proposed in connection with oceanography.
§ The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing)Yes. A new research ship is to be built for the National Institute of Oceanography in order to increase the effectiveness of the Institute's research at sea. The Institute now receives a grant-in-aid, mainly from 378 Navy Votes and the Development Fund, of £175,000 per annum. The level of this aid is to be reviewed shortly. At the same time the Institute's future programme will be discussed with other Departments interested in oceanography for both defence and civil purposes.
The Royal Society has recently set up a British National Committee for Oceanic Research, which is considering further the rôle which the United Kingdom can play in international oceanography. The results of its deliberations are expected shortly.