Hansard

National Centre for Earth Observation

Volume 701: debated on Tuesday 29 April 2008

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Lord Dykes

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they plan to increase financial support for the Natural Environment Research Council to develop the new National Centre for Earth Observation. [HL3149]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
(Baroness Morgan of Drefelin)

The Government recently announced an allocation to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) of £1.2 billion over the Comprehensive Spending Review period of 2008-09 to 2010-11. This represents an average increase of 5.4 per cent each year. It is for NERC to decide how to allocate this funding and, in February this year, NERC Council took a decision to invest in the development of a new National Centre for Earth Observation, from 1 April 2008. This builds on previous NERC investments in a suite of seven separate Earth Observation Centres of Excellence.