asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he is making for continuing the full range of meteorological readings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Arrangements have been made in consultation with the Meteorological Office for the following weather observations to be undertaken daily by the staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; cloud cover; wind direction and speed; weather conditions and visibility; air temperature—minimum and maximum over the previous 24 hours; soil temperature, rainfall and sunshine over the previous 24 hours.This information is primarily recorded for the benefit of the Meteorological Office as part of the United Kingdom voluntary network, but it is also of value in the horticultural research undertaken at Kew.