§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the diminution of the geomagnetic work done by Her Majesty's Gogernment, and consequent effects on sea and air military and civil traffic.
§ Mr. BrookeGeomagnetic research is carried out primarily by the Natural Environment Research Council through its institutes the British Antarctic Survey and the British Geological Survey, and it is for the council to decide how much of its grant-in-aid to allocate to this subject. The BAS will spend £407,000 in 1984–85 on geomagnetic research: its effort has not diminished except by the closure of the Grytviken observatory since the hostilities in the South Atlantic. The BGS will spend £236,400 in 1984–85, compared to £357,002 in 1983–84. Geomagnetic data are used to maintain up-to-date maps and charts for use in navigation. The BGS is attaching high priority to the maintenance of geomagnetic observations to the standards of previous years but clearly the reduction in funds means that some aspects of geomagnetic research have had to cease. It is not possible to measure the effects of diminution of research activity on sea and air traffic.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Natural Environment Research Council on geomagnetism.
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the Natural Environment Research812W Council (NERC) on this subject. Within the purposes set out in its Royal Charter and taking account of any recommendations made by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on scientific priorities and direction, the NERC is effectively free to decide what scientific priority to give to geomagnetism as compared with its other areas of science.