§ 31. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the programme of scientific research and discovery in oceanography which has just been started by the £800,000 Royal Research Ship "Discovery", which was launched on 3rd July, indicating the contribution it is expected to make to trade, industry and commerce.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThe new Royal Research Ship "Discovery" will commission in 1963 and will join ships of other countries in the International Indian Ocean Expedition. One particular aim of this Expedition is to establish the crustal structure of the Arabian Sea and to determine its relation to the surrounding continental land masses. The programme includes investigations into the movements and physical components of the sea, the geology of the sea bed and the exchanges of energy between the ocean and the atmosphere. Increased knowledge of the oceans can contribute to greater productivity in fishing; increased knowledge of wave form and currents leads to improved ship design and navigation; increased knowledge of geology may lead to the development of mineral resources.