asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he is aware that the 1981 budget for marine research has been cut from £392,000 to £376,000; if he will give figures for the cuts in each section; and if he will increase this grant.

The total amount allocated under C 1 (1) for scientific investigations for my Department in the 1981 Estimates amounts to £198,000. This compares with an allocation of £152,000 for 1980 and represents an increase of £46,000 for the current year.