18 and 55. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will now give an assessment of the results of the operation so far of the long-distance weather forecasts; and if he will make a statement;
§ (2) how many subscribers there are now to the long-distance weather forecasts; and what are the main types of user of this service.
§ Mr. H. FraserThe standard of accuracy of the 30-day weather forecasts published since 1st December, 1963, has been in line with my prediction to the House on 13th November, 1963. Nine out of 13 forecasts have been in close or moderate agreement with the weather actually experienced, and four have shown little agreement. None, however, has been wholly misleading. There are 2,800 subscribers to this new service, including some 590 business firms, 338 schools, 92 local authorities and 61 public utilities.
Mr. Gresham CookeWould my right hon. Friend agree that, despite the laughter on the benches opposite, it has been a useful exercise to get these 30-day forecasts started? Is not the amount of information sent out on the charts in connection with these 30-day forecasts of considerable value and interest? Would he say whether the public utilities which are among the 2,800 subscribers have found this useful?
§ Mr. FraserI thank my hon. Friend for his proper praise of this worthy endeavour. I am sure that it has been right to do this. Now that we have 2,800 subscribers, we propose in the next few weeks to ask them for their views on how useful this service has proved. When I have that information, I shall be very pleased to make a statement to the House.
§ Mr. K. LewisIn view of my right hon. Friend's good forecasting, will he look further ahead and tell us what the weather, political and otherwise, will be like in October.