§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department is giving to the development of submersible workboats and other underwater craft.
§ Sir J. EdenExisting vessels, both manned and unmanned, have been studied. Contracts have already been let to investigate the commercial possibilities of existing submersibles and, where possible, practical field tests have been made to evaluate their performance in relation to the needs of potential users. Other basic types are the subject of engineering feasibility studies. The Natural Environment Research Council has sponsored work at sea with one type of submersible to assess its possibility 511W for marine research and has issued a report.
The Department is in discussion with industry on ways of improving the performance of submersibles.