§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what military purposes his Department uses the services of the Meteorological Office; if he is considering any proposals to remove the Meteorological Office from the direct control or management of his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyAccurate meteorological information is vital to the operation of all the armed services, and particularly for flying activity. The Meteorological Office meets these defence requirements by the production of specialised forecasts to cover particular locations and ranges of operation and, when necessary, by the provision of staff at local military units. As has already been announced, the Meteorological Office is under consideration for establishment as an executive agency as part of the "next steps" initiative. The precise nature of such an agency is still under investigation. It is however clear that meteorology is a discrete executive function which would benefit from a greater degree of local responsibility within a centrally set broad framework.