§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy that South Africa should not have use of the Science and Engineering Research Council's equipment at the South African astronomical observatory.
§ Mr. WaldenNo.
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§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will terminate all financial support by the Science and Engineering Research Council for astronomers to use the South African astronomical observatory.
§ Mr. WaldenNo.
The interagency agreement by which SERC jointly funded the South African astronomical observatory with the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has been suspended for five years from 1986. Unless the agreement is renewed there will be no guaranteed right of access by United Kingdom astronomers to SAAO, nor guaranteed funding for those who obtain observing time.
However individual United Kingdom astronomers are free to apply to the director SAAO for observing time. If they are successful they may apply to SERC for travel funds to use the SAAO. Such requests will be considered on their scientific merits in competition with other requests to use foreign telescopes.