§ Lord KennetMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are discussing with the United States Administration the latter's proposal to dismantle the US National Weather Service in view of the wide-ranging effect this could have on British and global arrangements and interests.
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, the Government are not aware of any proposals by the United States Adminstration to dismantle their National Weather Service nor to withdraw from their bilateral arrangements or international obligations under World Meteorological Organisation conventions to which they are signatories.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, are the Government aware that such proposals have been widely published in the American press in the form of the alleged decision recently taken by President Reagan to sell off the weather satellites to commercial enterprise? If the American Government do proceed with that decision, will our Government, in collaboration with others similarly placed, be in early discussions with the United States Government about the probable cost of data from weather satellites if and when they are commercialised into private possession?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, the proposal in front of the United States is to transfer some civil remote-sensing satellites to the private sector. I have no doubt, however, that all public sector activities in the United States are kept under review just as they are in this country, but the United States is not dismantling or selling off any part of what amounts to its international obligations in any way that will affect us at all. Apart from the general interest in the data provided to the United Kingdom in common with all other members of the World Meteorological Organisation, the United States polar orbiting satellites carry some British instruments. In exchange for this, additional process data is available to us in real time and the Memorandum of Understanding provides for this to continue irrespective of the United States arrangements for operating the satellites.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, there is an important point to be raised here. Will the Minister be good enough to address himself to the following point? As I understand it, is it not the case that at present there is a policy of free interchange of meteorological data as between the United States and ourselves? Can 396 he give the House a categorical assurance that there is no change in that policy?
§ Lord GlenarthurYes, my Lords, I can give that assurance to the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition. The British Meteorological Office at Bracknell ranks extremely high in the world, in all aspects. It is an excellent organisation. Its record is extremely good and it will continue to develop its links with all other nations who are signatories to the WMO.