§ 78. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is satisfied with the standard of recent weather forecasts of his Department's Meteorological Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. A. HendersonYes. The great majority of the forecasts issued recently by the Meteorological Office have been substantially correct. The forecast of the week of fine weather at Whitsun and the forecasts for the Trooping of the Colour are examples. In the latter case, the forecasts were confirmed when thunderstorms took place in many parts of London; it is not possible, however, and perhaps will never be possible, to predict the exact place and time when thunderstorms will occur. I am satisfied that the staff of the Meteorological Office are fully qualified for the difficult task of forecasting.50W They are assisted and advised in their research work by the Meteorological Research Committee which includes many of the most eminent scientists in this field in the country. It will, however, be appreciated that the complexity of meteorological problems is such that substantial progress in the quality of forecasts in general must inevitably take some time.