§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number, size and type of survey vessels available to the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy; and what expansion of this fleet is planned in the next three years.
§ Mr. JuddThe Survey Fleet consists of four ocean survey ships with a displacement of 2,800 tons, four coastal survey vessels with a displacement of 1,000 tons, and five inshore survey craft with a displacement of 160 tons. The future size of the Survey Fleet is under review in the light of the report of the Hydrographic Study Group.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current staff of the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy; and what expansion of this staff is contemplated over the next three years.
§ Mr. JuddThe current staff bearing of the Hydrographer is:
Ashore 1,010 (980 civilian, 30 naval personnel) Afloat 136 surveying personnel 605 general service personnel Total 1,751 The future complement of the Hydrographer will depend upon Government decisions taken on the report of the Hydrographic Study Group, which is still under consideration. I should emphasise, however, that the Ministry of Defence will in future only be able to finance hydrography to the level required for defence purposes.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many overseas contracts for surveys in foreign waters have been secured by the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy in the past three years.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of charts sold by the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974.
§ Mr. JuddThe figures are as follows:
1970–71, £935,305; 1971–72, £1,167,928; 1972–73, £1,348,877; 1973–74, £1,579,060; 1974–75, £2,117,427.
299W
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution is currently being made by other Government Departments for the services carried out by the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign Governments have expressed interest in the work of the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy or shown willingness to pay for work carried out by his office.
§ Mr. JuddI do not wish to anticipate the statement which I shall make to the House when the recommendations of the Hydrographic Study Group Report have been fully considered by the Government.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the date or dates of the most recent surveys carried out by the Hydrographer in North Sea waters where licences for oil or gas exploration have been granted, or will shortly be invited.
§ Mr. JuddThe first modern surveys of this kind by Royal Navy hydrographic ships were started in 1975.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much money is being allocated to the Hydrographer for improved techniques of computer analysis and automatic chart plotting and correction.
§ Mr. JuddIn the current financial year £132,000 has been allocated for the procurement of automation equipment ashore and afloat, aimed at speeding up the process of chart revision.