§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what requests have been 153W made to the Tropical Development Research Institute and the Land Resources Development Centre, relating to famine, which have had to be declined since August; and what were the reasons in each case.
§ Mr. RaisonNone.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made, or intends to make, to facilitate the transport of his officials, scientists visiting London, the personnel of university departments and learned societies, Ministers of foreign Governments and officials of multi-national agencies to and from Chatham and London after the transfer to Chatham of the Tropical Development Research Institute.
§ Mr. RaisonI do not expect any special arrangements to be necessary. Direct public transport links between central London and Chatham are good and there will be convenient motorway access to Chatham from Heathrow and Gatwick.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he gave to relocating the various elements of the Tropical Development Research Institute in the London Docklands.
§ Mr. RaisonThe possibility was investigated. A large warehouse site which was potentially available was considered but not pursued because of expected high conversion and maintenance costs.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bodies or groups, including scientific societies, he consulted over his decision to re-locate the Tropical Development and Research Institute in Chatham.
§ Mr. RaisonThe directors of ODA's scientific units and their staffs, many of whom are members of scientific societies, were consulted. So also were Ministers of several other Departments, including those with regional interests.