§ 152. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many meteorological recording stations from which he obtains data are operated by private individuals or organisations in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively; and what is the proportion of these stations in relation to those operated by the Air Ministry or other public bodies.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesPrivate stations supplying data to the Meteorological Office number 428 in Scotland, 1,020 in England and 64 in Wales. Public bodies operate about three times as many.
§ 153. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates is the cost to the private individuals or organisations from which he obtains data of operating a meteorological recording station; and what assistance he gives financially and in other ways.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI do not have cost information about private stations. Financial assistance from my Department is normally limited to the payment of communication costs for observations received and also the payment of fees for synoptic observations for weather forecasting purposes. In addition, we lend private observers instruments without charge where necessary, and in exceptional circumstances grants not exceedings £20 may be made to private rainfall and climatological stations supplying data.