§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has for financial support in the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 for seismology, deep geology, regional geophysics and remote sensing within the British Geological Survey; and what plans he has for the financial year 1985–86.
§ Mr. BrookeThe following figures represent the amounts allocated by the Natural Environment Research Council, from its grant-in-aid from the science budget, for the relevant programme areas. They are expressed in terms of 1983–84 price levels. The NERC receives additional funding, through the commissioning of research. from other Departments.
460W
Financial year Seismology Deep geology Regional geophysics Remote sensing £ £ £ £ 1979–80 343,403 304,167 186,049 — 1980–81 369,930 280,012 31,919 8,376 1981–82 362,390 133,423 227,293 10,682 1982–83 355,570 177,461 270,245 14,831 1983–84 327,751 127,864 254,418 42,297
Financial year Seismology Deep geology Regional geophysics Remote sensing £ £ £ £ £ 1984–85 177,984 100,532 119,189 33,124 Totals 1,937,028 1,123,459 1,089,113 109,310 No decisions have yet been made on the level or the allocation of the science budget for 1985–86.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what statistics he has comparing the amount spent by Her Majesty's Government on the British Geological Survey and the amount spent by the Governments of West Germany, France, and the United States of America on comparable geological work.
§ Mr. BrookeThis question cannot be answered without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the encouragement of research into the geological sciences; what part Her Majesty's Government envisage being played by the British Geological Survey; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Government recognise the value of research in the geological sciences, both in terms of the advancement of scientific knowledge and in providing information of economic value concerning natural resources, mainly of the United Kingdom. Such research is carried out in three institutes of the Natural Environment Research Council, the British Geological Society (BGS), Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (IOS) and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS); and in universities and polytechnics. Some aspects of geophysics research are also supported by the Science and Engineering Research Council.
The determination of scientific priorities for basic research, including the priority given to basic research into the geological sciences, is a matter for individual universities, polytechnics and research councils. In addition, other Departments commission applied research in this field, principally with the NERC. The amount of such commissioned research is a matter for the Departments concerned. I understand that, in the case of the NERC, 44 per cent. of its expenditure is currently devoted to the earth sciences; 36 per cent. of that 44 per cent. is commissioned.
The BGS has played, and is seen as continuing to play, a key role in the advancement of the geological sciences and undertakes research across the whole spectrum from basic to applied, funded both through the science budget and through commissions.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding the future funding (a) of geological sciences generally and (b) of the British Geological Survey; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeNo such representations have been received.