§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the total sums allocated for scientific research in Antarctica by each of the signatories of the Antarctic treaty including the United Kingdom, for 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and beyond.
§ Mr. William SheltonI have been asked to reply.
As regards the United Kingdom, the amounts of grant-in-aid paid to the British Antarctic Survey from the Department's science budget through the Natural Environment Research Council are: 124W
£ 1980–81 *5,932,000 1981–82 *8,642,000 1982–83 †7,133,000 * Net of receipts. † Net of estimated receipts. The 1982–83 figure includes the £500,000 additional funding announced by my right hon. Friend on 18 January.
The total level of support for scientific research in Antarctica for 1983–84, 1984–85 and beyond has yet to be determined. In addition to my right hon. Friend's decision that the Science Budget for 1983–84 will include provision for an increase of £4 million in the survey programme, the public expenditure White Paper published on 1 February announced that such provision will rise to £5 million in each of the years 1984–85 and 1985–86.
The notification of figures on expenditure for scientific research is not required in the exchange of information under the Antarctic treaty. Information on expenditure by the other signatories is not therefore readily available.