§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a progress report on British participation in the world weather watch programme.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThis country is playing a major rôle in World Weather Watch. The Meteorological Office Headquarters at Bracknell is acting as a Regional Meteorological Centre in Europe. An upper air station is in operation at the R.A.F. staging post at Masirah. A British merchant ship is making routine upper air soundings at sea after successful trials, and the number of merchant ships voluntarily making surface observations at sea has been increased.
The research programme of the Meteorological Office has been expanded. The Office is also helping in the planning of the Global Atmospheric Research Programme, which is associated with World Weather Watch.
Three overseas meteorologists have been awarded fellowships at Reading University. The first annual contribution of £30,000 for World Weather Watch has been paid to the World Meteorological Organization, and equipment worth £100,000 has been offered to developing countries.
Planning is in hand for the establishment of a Regional Telecommunications Hub at Bracknell, the extension of upper air and surface observations in oceanic areas and the continuance of aid to developing countries.