§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans there are to build research ships, in addition to the "John Murray".
§ Mrs. Shirley Williams:The Natural Environment Research Council has accepted the results of the feasibility study for a second research vessel capable of a wide range of oceanographic research 387W and this is in an advanced state of design. The need for a third vessel is under active consideration.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have placed an order for a new vessel costing £1 million designed for fisheries research in the Arctic and N.W. Atlantic in which the British Distant Water Fleet mainly fishes. It is also equipped to operate in the South Atlantic and will replace the "Ernest Holt" built in 1948.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has placed an order for a new herring research vessel costing £190,000 to repace the "Clupea" built in 1945. The Department has also commissioned a design study for a vessel to replace the "Scotia" built in 1940. This will be basically a stern trawler but will also be equipped for hydrographic and other research work.