§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, with dates, the home ports of vessels of the British Antarctic Survey during the last 10 years, giving reasons for any change of port.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe British Antarctic Survey vessels, which are both used to supply the survey's bases at the start of each austral summer, sailed from Southampton from 1979 to 1984, and since 1985 have used Grimsby. The change was made for reasons of efficiency in handling cargo, and for economies in the laying up costs of the ships during the summer months.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, with dates, those ports at which 427W refitting or servicing has been carried out on (a) vessels of the British Antarctic Survey and (b) other research vessels of the Natural Environment Research Council.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerBritish Antarctic Survey vessels have been refitted at yards on the rivers Tyne and Humber exclusively in the last 10 years. Other Natural Environment Research Council vessels have used the following ports:
Year Discovery:— Viana do Castela, Portugal 1988 Cardiff 1987 Falmouth 1986, 1982 Tyne 1979–80, 1983–85 Humber 1981 Charles Darwin:— Valparaiso, Chile 1988 Singapore 1987 Glasgow and Mombasa 1986 Falmouth (Commissioned 1984) 1985 Challenger:— Great Yarmouth 1988 Cardiff 1987 Southampton 1986 Tyne 1979–82, 1985 Falmouth (no refit in 1983) 1984
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many cruises have in whole or in part been undertaken in the last 10 years by research vessels based at Research Vessel Services, Barry, on behalf of departments of the university of Southampton; and what proportions these are of the total of such work.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerDuring the past 10 years, Southampton university has used NERC ships as sole user for a total of nine weeks. Most cruises in recent years have involved more than one user. In the past three years Southampton university scientists participated in 24 of a total of nearly 120 cruises on Discovery, Charles Darwin and Challenger. Southampton provided the principal scientist on seven of the 24 cruises. It is not possible to calculate the proportion of the total work involved, since figures are not available for the time used where the university was not the main user.