1 Introduction
Polar science
1. Polar science gives an insight to the working
of key global mechanisms; polar regions influence global sea level,
the carbon cycle, and ocean circulation. Polar ecosystems and
marine biodiversity are also of significant ecological and economic
importance.[1] The Southern
Ocean in particular has a "disproportionately important"
influence upon the Earth system, as it connects the major ocean
basins, links shallow and deep components of overturning ocean
circulation currents, and influences global biochemical cycles.[2]
2. Britain is a leading participant in polar
science and Antarctic affairs. The size of the UK's scientific
operation in Antarctica, and the number of peer-reviewed papers
produced from this operation, are second only to the USA.[3]
The majority of these papers were authored or co-authored by the
British Antarctic Survey.[4]
British Antarctic Survey and National
Oceanography Centre
3. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is often
described as a jewel in the crown of British science.[5]
For over 60 years it has been responsible for the majority of
Britain's scientific research in and around the Antarctic.[6]
It counts amongst its research successes the discovery of the
Antarctic ozone hole,[7]
the development of the Antarctic Treaty,[8]
and successful negotiation for a marine protected area in the
Southern Ocean.[9] The
Science Minister described the British Antarctic Survey to us
as a "national and international asset" producing world
class environmental science.[10]
The British Antarctic Survey employs approximately 400 staff and
is based in Cambridge, UK. It operates three research stations
in the Antarctic (Rothera, Halley and Signy), two stations at
South Georgia (King Edward Point and Bird Island), five planes
and two ice-strengthened ships.[11]
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the British
Antarctic Survey's parent body and provides the majority of its
funding.[12] The British
Antarctic Survey has a flat cash settlement from NERC through
to 2015. However, NERC has "concerns that continuing pressures
on its funding and the impact of external factors such as the
price of fuel, may cause problems for [the British Antarctic Survey]
in maintaining the logistics it depends upon to deliver its science".[13]
4. The National Oceanography Centre is a NERC-owned
research centre. It was formed in April 2010 by the merger of
NERC-managed elements of research bodies in Liverpool and Southampton.[14]
It undertakes research "to address the oceans' influence,
impacts and potential to help address the big societal challenges
of food and energy sectors, biodiversity and climate change".[15]
A "significant" part of the National Oceanography Centre's
income comes from NERC's national capability funding line, which
has been "constrained" in recent years.[16]
Proposed merger
5. In June 2012, NERC announced that there "is
a strong strategic case for the merger of the British Antarctic
Survey (BAS) and National Oceanography Centre (NOC)".[17]
It gave the following reasons for this proposal:
- "Growing awareness of
the scientific synergies between marine and polar science and
the opportunities to integrate these areas of science more closely
to address the most ambitious scientific questions;
- The need for a long term vision for translating
ocean and polar science into timely, beneficial economic and social
impact, given the critical role of these 'frontier environments'
in addressing the challenges of increasing pressures on natural
resources and rapid environmental change; and
- Recognition of the increasing costs of providing
major marine and polar infrastructure and of the need to plan
and deliver this in the most cost-effective way, particularly
at a time of downward pressure on public finances."[18]
6. In September 2012, NERC launched a consultation
entitled "BAS/NOC merger".[19]
This asked for views on a number of issues relating to a possible
merger, with the intention that NERC Council would consider a
scientific and business case for a merger in December 2012.[20]
However, on 24 October, NERC announced that this decision would
be brought forward to 1 November. NERC cited concerns about the
effects of uncertainty regarding the future of the two organisations
as the reason for the change.[21]
Our inquiry
7. As part of our marine science inquiry we requested
written evidence regarding NERC's support for marine science in
polar and non-polar regions. During the course of this inquiry
we received a number of written submissions regarding NERC's proposals
to merge the British Antarctic Survey and National Oceanography
Centre. There were clear concerns about these proposals and the
manner in which the consultation process was being carried out.
Given these concerns, we felt NERC's proposals should be subject
to parliamentary scrutiny. We therefore thought it important to
take evidence on this issue prior to NERC making its decision
on the merger. As NERC will be making their decision the day following
our evidence session, we have undertaken to publish this report
in time for it to inform their deliberations. We await the decision
on the merger with interest and may return to this issue in the
future.
8. On 31 October 2012 we heard evidence from
Edmund Wallis, Chair, NERC; Professor Duncan Wingham, Chief Executive,
NERC; Professor Ed Hill, Interim Director of the British Antarctic
Survey and Director of the National Oceanography Centre; and Rt
Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and
Science. We are grateful to those who provided oral and written
evidence.
9. In this report we consider some of the concerns
that have been raised with us regarding NERC's consultation process.
We comment on the content of the consultation document and raise
questions about whether the strategic case for a merger has been
made. We highlight the absence of data relating to purported cost
savings from the consultation. We also comment on broader issues
relating to potential geopolitical implications of changes to
the British Antarctic Survey and environmental considerations.
1 http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/publications/pspe.pdf
Back
2
Written evidence submitted by BAS, para 22 - MS22 Back
3
Written evidence submitted by BAS, para 11 - MS22 Back
4
Written evidence submitted by John Dudeney - MS33 Back
5
See, for example, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/exclusive-british-polar-research-in-crisis-7627014.html Back
6
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/our_organisation/who_we_are.php Back
7
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk//about_antarctica/geography/ozone.php Back
8
Written evidence submitted by BAS, para 12 - MS22 Back
9
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/news/news_story.php?id=1054 Back
10
See oral evidence transcript Back
11
Written evidence submitted by BAS - MS22 Back
12
Though other funding is used from research grants and external
contracts. Back
13
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/press/releases/2012/04-bas-funding.asp Back
14
http://noc.ac.uk/about-us/our-organisation Back
15
Written evidence submitted by NOC, para 1 - MS18 Back
16
Written evidence submitted by NOC , para 28 - MS18 Back
17
BAS/NOC merger consultation document, http://www.nerc.ac.uk/about/consult/bas-noc-merger-consultation.pdf,
para 1 (referred to hereafter as "Consultation document")
Back
18
Consultation document p1 para 1, http://www.nerc.ac.uk/about/consult/bas-noc-merger-consultation.pdf Back
19
Consultation document, p1, title, http://www.nerc.ac.uk/about/consult/bas-noc-merger-consultation.pdf Back
20
Consultation document p2 para 9, http://www.nerc.ac.uk/about/consult/bas-noc-merger-consultation.pdf Back
21
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/about/work/boards/council/bas-noc.asp Back
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