HC Deb 22 November 1977 vol 939 cc627-8W
Mr. John Ellis

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the present criteria for judging the accuracy of weather forecasts.

Mr. Wellbeloved

There is no simple answer, as a variety of both objective (statistical) and subjective tests are employed to monitor the accuracy of the many types of weather forecasts issued by the Meteorological Office. The methods were described in some detail in the Annual Report of the Meteorological Office for 1973, a copy of which is in the Library and my hon. Friend was provided in March 1977 with additional information as follow-up action to an earlier related Question on 28th January.—[Vol. 924, c.800.]

Mr. John Ellis

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the improvement to the accuracy of weather forecasts in the last five years.

Mr. Wellbeloved

For the period 1972 to 1976 I would refer my hon. Friend to the very detailed information provided to him in March 1972. For the latest available figures for BBC Regional Forecasts I would refer him to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hastings (Mr. Warren) on 8th November 1977.—[Vol. 938, c. 64.]