§ Mr. Skeetasked the Prime Minister what measure of support the Government have provided for the British Antarctic Survey in each of the past 10 years; how the most recent funds have been allocated; and whether any funds are provided for the British Antarctic Survey apart from financing through the Department of Education and Science.
54W
§ The Prime MinisterThe British Antarctic Survey receives the greater part of its funds as a grant-in-aid from the science budget of the Department of Education and Science, through the Natural Environment Research Council. In addition there is a small measure of financial support for the survey by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Government, whose funds derive from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in respect of the Survey's base at Grytviken, South Georgia. Small amounts of income are also received from other sources, especially the sale of British Antarctic Territory stamps and, in recent years, a contribution by the government-supported Alfred Wegener Institute (West Germany).
The amounts of grant-in-aid paid to the survey from the science budget for each of the past 10 years have been:
£000 1972–73 1,885 1973–74 2,024 1974–75 2,523 1975–76 3,209 1976–77 3,527 1977–78 4,176 1978–79 4,766 1979–80 5,186 1980–81 5,582 1981–82 7,803 The funds for the last two years have been allocated as follows:
£000 1980–81 1981–82 Staff costs 2,647 2,950 Other recurrent costs: Logistic vessel costs 988 957 Research and other support costs 2,156 2,264 Capital: Equipment 297 150 New Buildings at Antarctic bases 99 347 Ships' major refits — 1,762 Total expenditure 6,187 8,430 Less receipts: (i) FCO (Related to running costs of Grytviken 30 36 (ii) West German Government participation in research — 130 (iii) British Antarctic Territory (largely stamp revenue) 238 135 (iv) Other, mainly Governor's Fund and lease of aircraft 337 326 5,582 7,803 As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science announced this afternoon in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Colvin), the science budget for 1983–84 will include special provision for an additional £4 million for support of the survey, over and above the level of support which is planned in any case.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Prime Minister what use has been made by the United Kingdom British Antartic Survey of inspection rights under article VII of the treaty particularly over bases under foreign jurisdiction within the British quadrant.
§ The Prime MinisterNone. Inspections in British Antarctic Territory and elsewhere in Antarctica have been conducted by Royal Naval personnel nominated as 55W inspectors under the treaty. The British Antarctic Survey and HMS "Endurance" have opportunities, outside the inspection provisions of the treaty, to visit foreign scientific bases in British Antarctic Territory.