HC Deb 09 March 1967 vol 742 c336W
Dr. David Owen

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements exist for relating scientific research in Antarctica to that for which he is responsible.

Mr. Crosland

The Government has decided that, with effect from 1st April, 1967, responsibility for the British Antarctic Survey should pass from the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (formerly the Secretary of State for the Colonies) to me. The Survey will be assimilated to the Research Council structure for the support of civil science under the Science and Technology Act, 1965. Since its activities are predominantly in the environmental sciences I have asked the Natural Environment Research Council to accept responsibility for it, and the Council has agreed.