HC Deb 09 April 1984 vol 58 c136W
Dr. Bray

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has not sought membership for the United Kingdom of the international ocean drilling programme, in view of the scientific and technological importance of its work.

Mr. Brooke

The United Kingdom has been a member of the international phase of ocean drilling (IPOD) since 1975. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has been responsible for the United Kingdom's subscription to IPOD, which has been $2 million per year since 1981. The sum has been found in part by an earmarked addition of £400,000 to NERC's grant-in-aid from the Department's science budget, in part by a contribution from the Department of Energy averaging 30 per cent. of the total and in part by NERC from the council's normal grant-in-aid from the science budget.

Doubt has arisen about the United Kingdom's membership of the next phase of the programme, the ocean drilling programme which is due to start in January 1985, because of an increase in the subscription, aggravated by exchange rate fluctuations and by doubts about the willingness of all the United Kingdom IPOD contributors to find substantial contributions. The NERC is faced with the possibility of having to find £1.4 million (the full amount of the future United Kingdom subscription less the £0.4 million earmarked addition) to ensure continued participation in the project, which it believes represents excellent science. I understand that the NERC has met oil and mining company representatives to discuss the possibility of a substantial commercial sector contribution.

My right hon. Friend would like the United Kingdom to be a member of the new programme if the money can be found; discussions with the oil and mining sectors of industry and with the Department of Energy and other Departments are continuing.