Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost for 1978, 1979 and 1980 of the Hydrographic Service.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe net yearly cost of the Hydrographic Service calculated for the financial years in question was as follows:
£ million 1978–79 20 1979–80 25 1980–81 29 These figures include an element for depreciation of equipment and interest on capital; they also take account of revenue from sales of charts and publications.
Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the costs of the Hydrographic Service have been met by British companies involved in deep sea mining in the last five years.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe costs of the Hydrographic Service have not to any extent been met directly by the mining companies, but along with other commercial users the mining companies would of course contribute to the cost of the Hydrographic Service through the purchase of any charts and publications they might need for their activities.