22. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent the knowledge now being accumulated 451 for the report on long-range weather forecasting to be made to the Aerological Commission in September is sufficient to provide a long-range forecast of the weather over the British Isles this summer, and to provide information as to whether the weather will, on average, be sunnier or wetter than usual.
§ Mr. J. AmeryIt is not possible on the basis of the scientific knowledge at present available to provide a reliable long-range forecast of the weather over the British Isles this summer.
Mr. Gresham CookeWhile appreciating that my right hon. Friend cannot forecast the weather this summer, would he not agree that, having regard to the increased knowledge that we are gaining of the upper atmosphere through the work being done by people like Dr. Fritz Bauer of Germany and the incomparable records of the weather of these islands for the last hundred years, there is a real possibility of getting even longer range weather forecasts in the next few years?
§ Mr. AmeryWe are studying all possible methods, including those used by Dr. Bauer, but I cannot hold out any hope for the near future.