§ Sir Ian LloydTo ask the Prime Minister what has been the contribution by Her Majesty's Government to research and development connected with global warming in the current financial year; how much is planned for future years; and if she will break the figures down by departmental budget.
§ The Prime MinisterResearch on climate change and the possible consequences of global warming is being undertaken on an international scale.
The Government are currently spending over £15 million on research and development directly relevant to the understanding of climate change and global warming and this figure is likely to increase. Details of expenditure by departmental and research council budget are given in the table for 1989–90.
In addition, a number of Departments are undertaking research and development work which will be relevant to the mitigation of and adaption to the consequence of climate change and global warming.
Planned expenditure on climate change research and development in 1989–90 £ million NERC 11.2 SERC 2.0 Met. Office 0.75 DOE 0.59 MAFF 1.0 Total 15.54 A major assessment of the scientific position on climate change by United Nations Environment Programme/World Meteorological Office is under way in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change under United Kingdom chairmanship, and the Government are providing £760,000 over two years in support of this work:.