§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the effect on the continuation of synoptic geomagnetic measurement in the United Kingdom of the reductions proposed in the Natural Environment Research Council's corporate plan in support for strategic research within its component bodies in favour of commissioned research and of the transfer of science budget funds from the institutes to universities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeI have received 60 letters about NERC's corporate plan.
The Natural Environment Research Council has recently, with the help of a special allocation from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, invested additional funds in the geomagnetism unit of the British geological survey for the automation of three observatories at Lerwick (Shetland), Hartland (Devon) and Eskdalemuir (Dumfries and Galloway). This is part of a modernisation programme consistent with the council's corporate plan.
694WAlthough the corporate plan proposes an increase in support for university research, as well as attempts to win more commissioned research, it is not intended that this should be at the expense of high-priority basic and strategic research.