§ Mr. Andrew MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special provision he has made for research in Antarctica within the additions to the science budget which he announced on 3 November; arid if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerWithin the sums I announced for the science budget, the additions specifically for research in Antarctica are £8.6 million in 1988–89, £17.7 million in 1989–90 and £3.7 million in 1990–91. This additional funding will help to maintain and advance the high quality of United Kingdom research in Antarctica supported by the Natural Environment Research Council through the British Antarctic Survey. The greater part will be used to purchase a new research and supply ship. This will make important contributions to marine geology, geophysics and biology in the southern oceans and will support more scientists in Antarctica. Atmospheric research will continue from a new base at Halley, with further studies of the "ozone hole" discovered by BAS scientists. The additional funds will also support other research programmes of global relevance: on the continent's animal and mineral resources and on ice and climate, including the "greenhouse effect" caused by increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.