§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are plans to fund research into the annual migratory track of porpoises from the Baltic to the North sea and to the English channel in relation to the spread of the virus affecting marine mammals; if there are proposals to initiate collaborative projects internationally; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 9 November 1988]: Preliminary work is now under way at the sea mammal research unit of the Natural Environment Research Council for a full research project based on the tracking of porpoises to proceed next year. This study will provide detailed information on the movement and feeding of porpoises and involves collaboration with other researchers both in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Evidence available so far has not identified in porpoises the particular virus responsible for seal deaths.
§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current budgetary restraints on the Natural Environment Research Council five-year project to collect data about chemistry and biology of the North sea.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 9 November 1988]: The Department intends to spend £1.2 million on North sea related research in 1988–89 and we are planning to increase that amount in 1989–90. A good proportion of this expenditure is placed with NERC. The NERC North sea project is funded principally from the science budget which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.