§ 6. Mr. Woodallasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he is making for the implementation of the proposals by the special working party on the future of the hydrographic service.
§ Mr. JuddThe report of the Hydro-graphic Study Group is still under consideration. A statement will be made as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I shall arrange for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. WoodallI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he anticipate the expenditure of more public funds? If so, will a Vote of the House be required?
§ Mr. JuddI refer my hon. Friend to our recent debate on the Royal Navy when I said that only the part of hydrographic work necessary for the work and operations of the Royal Navy could be financed out of the defence budget. Any other funds required will obviously have to come from other sources. This is what is being considered.
§ Mr. BlakerDid not the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy say in 1973 that many of our charts were already obsolete? Is it not more important today than in former years to keep them up to date, bearing in mind the needs of oil exploration? Does what the hon. Gentleman has just said mean that the proposals that the financing of the hydrographic service should be separate from the defence budget are accepted, or is he going less far than that?
§ Mr. JuddThe Hydrographer, in fighting for his unrivalled service in terms of hydrographic services anywhere else in the world, has spoken frequently of the quality of the service and of the problems that it faces. Obviously the Government are concerned to maintain the highest standard of charts. As to the issue of a separate Vote, this is under active consideration. The serious argu- 276 ments put forward are being examined closely.