HC Deb 11 November 1969 vol 791 cc179-80
Q4. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Prime Minister if he will designate overall responsibility for the British effort in developing the marine environment to one particular Department of State.

The Prime Minister

I have nothing to add to paragraph 157 of the White Paper on Marine Science and Technology (Cmnd. 3992.).

Mr. Dalyell

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the opinion of many of the officials of the American Marine Sciences Council and of its former chairman, Mr. Hubert Humphrey, that it would be much easier to deal with the British and promote international co-operation in this field if there was one Department of State to deal with it?

The Prime Minister

I am not aware of the views of American officials on this matter. I am aware that in most matters the American Administration has far more Ministries and agencies dealing with almost any conceivable question than we have. However, since my hon. Friend's Question refers to a matter within the ambit of the Natural Environment Research Council, may I say that it is necessary that regulatory activities like oil pullution at sea, international co-operation on the use of the seabed, exploitation of marine resources, such as fisheries, and defence aspects, should be handled by the Departments responsible for these broad duties.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

While the Select Committee on Science and Technology endorsed the paragraph of the White Paper to which the right hon. Gentleman has just referred, may I ask him if he will look at what the Minister of Technology is at present doing with the Committee on Marine Technology, the chairman of which he has just appointed to serve a purpose quite outside oceanography altogether?

The Prime Minister

Yes. But the hon. Gentleman, who has given a great deal of thought to these questions, willagree that that committee is doing extremely valuable work. He will also be aware that on many of the aspects on which the Select Committee has reported 1 have asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning to present an urgent report. When we have one, there will be a report made to the House.