§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what, in research terms, are the main priority areas being tackled by Her Majesty's Government to improve scientific knowledge of the North sea.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMuch of the ongoing research undertaken by the Fisheries Departments and the marine science programmes of the research councils is relevant.
Examples of some areas of particular relevance to the North sea are: monitoring coastal discharges, dumping sites and North sea oil and gas installations; monitoring plankton productivity and studying factors that influence it; modelling water sediment movements to gain an understanding of nutrient and pollutant transfer.
The outcome of the North sea conference next November will influence future priorities.