§ 2. Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the work of the Meteorological Office.
§ The Under-secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Peter Blaker)The Meteorological Office provides meteorological services for the community at large. In meeting these requirements, it is its policy to provide general forecasts and weather information for broadcast on radio and television, for publication in the Press and for use by the Post Office in its automatic telephone weather service. It supplements these with special forecasts or information designed to meet the needs of particular interests.
§ Mr. JonesWhy does the Meteorological Office seem to deny the existence of Wales, for instance, in its forecasts on the tapes in this House? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Meteorological Office's denial of the existence of Wales is to some extent the reason for such bad forecasting? Is there not a general strategic implication also? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that hon. Members representing constituencies in the Principality have no idea of the weather they are going home to at weekends?
§ Mr. BlakerI will not comment on the last part of that supplementary question, nor can I accept responsibility for what appears on the tapes in the House. A great deal of work is done by the Meteorological Office on Wales and a great deal is broadcast both on the Radio 4 Wales programmes and on BBC and Harlech Television.