HC Deb 23 January 1970 vol 794 cc203-4W
Sir R. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a list of the organisations which the Government have consulted about a change from the British nautical mile to the international nautical mile, showing which are in favour of the change and which are against.

Dr. David Owen

25 organisations were asked whether they would agree to adopt the International Nautical Mile if the majority of organisations concerned favoured the change.

The following on the marine side were entirely in favour of the adoption of the International Nautical Mile:

  • Royal Institute of Naval Architects.
  • National Institute of Oceanography.
  • National Association of Shipbuilders and Repairers.
  • British Shipping Federation.
  • Institute of Marine Engineers.
  • N.E Coast Institute of Engineers.

MAJOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMMES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS INCLUDING ALLOCATIONS FOR RAISING THE LEAVING AGE
£ million
Basic Needs Improvements and Replacements RSLA Totals
Year Primary Secondary Total Primary Secondary Total Secondary Primary Secondary Total
1965–66 … 25 25 50 6 24 30 — 31 49 80
1966–67 … 26 23 49 8 22 30 — 34 45 79
1967–68 … 35 38 73 11 10 21 — 46 48 94
1968–69 … 25 36 61 6 7 13 — 31 43 96*
1969–70 … 32 54 86 12 9 21 — 44 63 107
1970–71 … 34 60 94 9 2 11 25 43 87 130
1971–72† … 31 63 94 13 2 15 35 44 100 144
* £22 million of the resources for 1968–69 were committed to meet an excess of starts over the authorised total in 1967–68. This sum cannot be ascribed to particular projects, and consequently cannot be analysed in terms of the Question.
† Provisional figures.
NOTE: These figures exclude allocations for minor projects.

  • Institute of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland.
  • Ordnance Survey.
  • British Ship Research Association.
  • Institute of Navigation.
  • Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom.
  • Hon. Company of Master Mariners.
  • British Standards Institute.
  • The Royal Society.
  • Royal Geographical Society.
  • British Trawlers Federation.
  • Standard Telephones and Cables Limited.
  • Corporation of Trinity House.
  • British Cartographical Society.
  • Cable and Wireless Company.
  • Submarine Cables Limited.
  • The following were prepared to adopt the International Nautical Mile if all other organisations did, but expressed some reservations: Air Registration Board.
  • Society of British Aerospace Companies Limited.
  • Royal Aeronautical Society.
  • Decca Navigator Company Limited.