---

Antarctic: Tourist Ships

I would like to offer the noble Viscount reassurance this afternoon, but I do not have briefing on the funding arrangements for that. I think that it was the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, who raised another issue about Antarctic survey work, and I was conscious that I had not answered that point either, so I will compose some correspondence and make sure that we properly research the funding arrangements for both those projects and will of course share that with other noble Lords who have participated. The information comes late. I can tell noble Lords that the Antarctic survey forms part of the Natural Environmental Research Council work. We recognise the importance of the scientific contribution made by the BAS and the importance of research and associated monitoring continuing. Looking back, the discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 was an important result of its work, which underlines the value of that research work. I understand that the Natural Environmental Research Council is introducing new arrangements for the funding of science as part of its wider science strategy and will monitor the impact of those arrangements for its research centres, including the BAS but, as I say, I am happy to write to noble Lords with any more detail that can be usefully shared by all who have contributed. I thank all noble Lords who have been involved; it has been a very valuable debate. [The Sitting was adjourned from 3.53 pm to 4 pm.]