§ Mr. du Cannasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the funding of civil hydrography.
§ Mr. WigginThe costs of civil hydrographic surveys in the current financial year are being met by contributions from the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Trade; the costs will also be shared in 1983–84 and 1984–85. From 1985–86 financial responsibility for civil hydrography will pass from the Ministry of Defence to the Department of Trade, together with a transfer of funds equivalent to the Ministry of Defence's annual contribution. The Hydrographer of the Navy will continue to exercise professional supervision over the civil survey programme.