§ Mr. Tinnasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the membership and scope of the Natural Environment Research Council.
§ Mr. CroslandI have appointed the following to be members of the Natural Environment Research Council under the chairmanship of Sir Graham Sutton:
Mr. F. C. Bawden, F.R.S., Director of the Rothamsted Experimental Station (Lawes Agricultural Trust).
Sir Edward Bullard, Ph.D., Sc.D., F.R.S., Professor of Geodesy and Geophysics, Cambridge University.
Professor A. R. Clapham, Ph.D., F.R.S., Department of Botany, Sheffield University.
Professor F. K. Hare, Ph.D., L[...].D., Department of Geography, University of London (King's College).
Professor J. E. Harris, F.R.S., Department of Zoology, Bristol University.
Lord Howick of Glendale, G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.
Professor M. V. Laurie, O.B.E., Department of Forestry, Oxford University.
Professor M. J. Lighthill, F.R.S., Royal Society Research Professor, Imperial College of Science and Technology (University of London).
Professor J. H. Taylor, F.R.S., Department of Geology, Kings College, University of London.
182WProfessor J. C. Mitcheson, C.B.E., Department of Mining and Mineral Technology, Imperial College of Science and Technology (University of London).
Mr. N. A. F. Rowntree, Director of the Water Resources Board.
Professor S. K. Runcorn, Department of Physics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Professor J. H. Taylor, F.R.S., Department of Geology, Kings College, University of London.
Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards, Department of Natural History, Marischal College, Aberdeen.
Dr. C. M. Yonge, C.B.E., D.Sc, F.R.S., Department of Zoology, Glasgow University.
A Charter incorporating the Council has been approved by the Queen in Council. It is hoped that the Council will come into formal existence on 1st June, when the relevant provisions of the Science and Technology Act, 1965, will be brought into force by Order in Council.
The Council will be responsible for supporting and undertaking research in earth sciences and ecology. It will take over responsibility for the Nature Conservancy, the Geological Survey and Museum (with which will be amalgamated the Directorate of Overseas Geological Surveys, at present under the Ministry of Overseas Development, in accordance with the recommendations of the Brundrett Committee on Technical Assistance for Overseas Geology and Mining), the Hydrology Research Unit and the National Institute of Oceanography. It will also take over the present responsibilities of the Development Commission in relation to fisheries research and allied subjects, will assume financial and policy responsibility for the research now carried out by the Meteorological Office in seismology and geomagnetism, and will co-ordinate research in meteorology generally with that carried out by the Meteorological Office; it will be responsible for the support of long-term forestry research, in consultation with the Forestry Commission. The Council will have power to make research 183W and postgraduate training awards in all the subjects which it covers. It will work through subordinate committees responsible for each of the main activities concerned and based, where appropriate, on the body now responsible for the field in question.
The Chairman, has, with my approval, appointed Mr. R. J. H. Beverton, M.A., Deputy Director of the Fisheries Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at Lowestoft, to act as Secretary of the Research Council. This appointment will be submitted for the Council's ratification in due course. Mr. Beverton will spend a substantial amount of his time on the work of the Council in the period before it comes into formal existence.
The Headquarters office of the Council is being established in State House, High Holborn, W.C.2.