HL Deb 08 December 1987 vol 491 cc193-4WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are discussing with other governments the possibility of using GLORIA (geological long range inclined ASDIC) to survey the continental shelf in the Arctic region, and if so, which.

Lord Glenarthur

There have been no government-to-government discussions of the use of GLORIA in the Arctic.

In accordance with their agreement with the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences which developed GLORIA, Marconi Underwater Systems Ltd. has built its own system and is now actively marketing GLORIA services. Marconi receives the advice and support of government services available to British industry and exports in the usual way.

The Natural Environment Research Council is now just over halfway through its project using GLORIA with the United States Geological Survey to map the United States exclusive economic zone, with remaining work to be done in Alaska and the Hawaiian chain.

GLORIA is also being deployed during some of the marine scientific research cruises undertaken by the NERC-owned vessel, the RRS Charles Darwin. This vessel is currently operating in the Indian Ocean before moving on to the Pacific next year.