§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why from 1 October the United Kingdom will cease to be a candidate member of the Joint Oceanographic Deep Earth Sciences Committee with the United States of America, Canada, West Germany, France and Japan; and if he will make a statement on the British subscription.
§ Mr. BrookeI understand that the period during which the United Kingdom is allowed candidate membership of the Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling is not permitted to be extended beyond 30 September 1985. The United Kingdom's subscription is paid through the Natural Environment Research Council, which is continuing to make efforts to secure contributions from a number of sources, including companies in the oil and mining sectors, to enable the United Kingdom to afford the cost of full membership from 1 October 1985.