§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what scientific and non-scientific criteria were taking into account in deciding to relocate the royal Greenwich observatory in Cambridge; what estimate was made of the cost of relocation in Manchester or Merseyside; and if he will reconsider the relocation to Manchester or Merseyside.
§ Mr. WaldenI understand that the Science and Engineering Research Council took account of the scientific need to associate the royal Greenwich observatory with a university having the following facilities: a strong astronomy department including an active optical observing group, expertise which complements that of the RGO, single site astronomy facilities, and associated strengths in engineering, computing and communications. The council also took account of nonscientific criteria, including cost and, equally important, the potential of the various sites for providing RGO with suitable accommodation.
The net cost after five years of the move to Manchester, taking both capital and recurrent costs and savings into account, was estimated to be: for the option using a refurbished existing building, nil; for the option using a .new building, £0.7 million. The first of these two options however had the disadvantage of housing RGO on two sites separated by a main thoroughfare.
My right hon. Friend is considering the formal request by the SERC for approval in principle of the capital expenditure required for relocating the RGO at Cambridge.