HC Deb 24 October 1988 vol 139 cc1-2W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support Her Majesty's Government are giving to the research programme on plankton in the North sea and the eastern Atlantic at the Plymouth marine laboratory.

Mr. Jackson

The continuous plankton recorder survey at the Plymouth marine laboratory will cost in the order of £300,000 in 1988–89. The NERC is providing about half of the funds from its science budget allocation, with a contribution of up to £140,000 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I understand that in 1989–90, while the NERC is to cease funding in order to concentrate on research that it considers to be of higher priority, MAFF has offered to contribute up to £150,000, subject to PML offering a satisfactory proposal. Other funding from organisations which benefit from the survey will be sought.