§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, why the Natural Environment Research Council purchased a French trawler for conversion in preference to a British vessel.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneSince the council was advised that the construction of a new vessel would have cost considerably more than the purchase and conversion of a secondhand one, it made an extensive survey in 1978 of the secondhand fishing vessel market, using the services of ship brokers. There was no British vessel available which met the council's requirements. A survey of the continental market identified two suitable French vessels, of which the more suitable was purchased after inspection and survey.