HC Deb 29 October 1985 vol 84 cc461-2W
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to reorganise the methods and channelling of funds to the British Geological Survey in support of its basic and strategic research programmes.

Mr. Brooke

My right hon. Friend does not intend to pre-empt the outcome of the study established by the Natural Environment Research Council and the Advisory Board for the Research Councils to assess the United Kingdom's needs for geological surveying over the next 5–10 years. The terms of reference of the study group were given in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply on 28 October to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) at column 311.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider appointing a new director of the British Geological Survey who is an eminent geologist.

Mr. Brooke

The appointment of the director of the British Geological Survey (BGS) is the responsibility of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), as the BGS is one of the NERC's institutes. I understand that the NERC has appointed Mr. G. I. Lumsden to be the BGS's director from 1 November 1985; and that Mr. Lumsden is an eminent geologist who has worked in the BGS for 36 years and has particular experience in stratigraphical, environmental and applied geology.