§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current earnings of the Hydrographer in foreign currency.
§ Mr. DuffyForeign currency earnings from the export of charts and navigational publications are expected to amount to £2.75 million in this financial year.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the replacement programme of the vessels used by the Hydrographer over the next 10 years.
§ Mr. DuffyIt is not our practice to disclose information about replacement plans for any naval ships so far ahead.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Admiralty charts are obsolescent.
§ Mr. DuffyAny map or chart is to some extent obsolescent as soon as it is published. However, all 3,400 Admiralty charts are constantly updated from the data available to the Hydographer.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now appoint a national hydrographic advisory committee.
§ Mr. DuffyThere are no plans to appoint a national hydrographic advisory committee but an Interdepartmental Hydrographic Strategic Review Body has been set up following recommendation 7 of the Hydrographic Study Group. This body held its first meeting on 12th May 1976.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps are being taken to ensure that the Hydrographer has sufficient resources over the next decade to carry out a full programme of work in (a) priority areas for defence, (b) priority areas for shipping, (c) platform tow-out routes, (d) energy source exploration and (e) energy bathymetry, all in United Kingdom home waters;
(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that the Hydrographer has adequate resources over the next decade to maintain 93W a programme of surveying in (a) the Persian Gulf, (b) the West Indies and (c) South China seas.
§ Mr. DuffyIt has been decided that the Royal Navy hydrographic fleet should be retained at its present size for the time being. During 1977–78 the Department of Energy and the Ministry of Overseas Development, as well as the Ministry of Defence, will contribute towards the running costs of the ships identified in the defence review as surplus to strict minimum defence requirements. The basis of the operation of the Hydro-graphic Service thereafter is being reviewed with the aim of ensuring that in the long term, and paying particular attention to its commercial potential, the fleet will continue to be able to carry out a full programme of surveying in support of all national requirements. This programme would include work in United Kingdom waters and overseas, the priorities for which would be considered by the Hydrographic Strategic Review Body.
Mr. Hookyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist between the United Kingdom and the USSR for the reciprocal exchange of Admiralty charts.
1st January 1976 to 28th September 1973 1974 1975 1976 Reported by Her Majesty's Survey Ships: New wrecks located … 55 215 90 87 New data on previously located wrecks … 162 260 116 142 Reported from all other sources … 247 282 494 497