§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to privatise the Meteorological Office. [24812]
§ Mr. FreemanThere are no such plans.
§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to meet Professor Julian Hunt, chief executive of the Meteorological Office to discuss the accuracy of weather forecasts. [24814]
§ Mr. FreemanMy noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence maintains regular contact with the chief executive of the Meteorological Office.
§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of introducing competition for the Meteorological Office on the quality of weather forecasts. [24813]
§ Mr. FreemanThe Meteorological Office and the private sector have been competing for a number of years for commercial contracts for meteorological services. The competition helps to ensure that the Met Office maintains a very high-quality forecasting service.