§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to ensure that there is appropriate funding for the study into the Arctic ozone hole or holes, and whether British scientists are yet participating in the international Arctic science committee.
§ Viscount DavidsonHer Majesty's Government have a major interest in, and are making available resources for, the study of the depletion of the ozone layer on a global scale. The have also taken a lead in 1551WA developing international collaboration in this field. Within the Arctic, scientists from the Meteorological Office and Cambridge University, supported in part by the Department of the Environment, participated in the international experimental programme to study the stratospheric ozone concentration during the early part of 1989.
Discussions about the proposal to establish an international Arctic sciences committee are still continuing. British scientists are expected to be able to participate in the work of the organisation, if and when it is set up.