§ Lord Gregsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the present status of UK negotiations to join the Ocean Drilling Programme.
§ The Earl of SwintonThe United Kingdom is to join the Ocean Drilling Programme (ODP) as a full member. The UK 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 USA applying for membership in the ODP. A group of UK oil producers—BP, Britoil, Burmah, Enterprise, Shell UK and Tricentrol—has 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 £1m per annum. The NERC will also provide support to British scientists participating in the cruises and subsequent research.
The involvement of 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 have traditionally been funded from the public sector.