§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on British participation in the ocean drilling programme.
§ Sir Keith Joseph[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1985, c. 522]The United Kingdom is to join the ocean drilling programme (ODP) as a full member. The United Kingdom will be represented through the Natural Environment Research Council, and its Secretary, Dr. John Bowman, has written today to the National Science Foundation of the United States of America applying for membership in the ODP. A group of United Kingdom oil producers—BP, Britoil, Burmah, Enterprise, Shell UK and Tricentrol—have agreed to contribute to the annual subscription of US $2.5 million as have the Departments of Energy, (which will contribute 20 per cent.), Environment, and Trade and Industry. The NERC regards this programme as high priority and will contribute the balance of almost £1 million per annum. The NERC will also provide support to British scientists participating in the cruises and subsequent research.
The involvement of the Government, the NERC and industry underlines the Government's keeness to encourage joint funding in partnership with industry of strategic research projects such as ODP which traditionally have been funded from the public sector.