Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the value is of the contracts currently delivered by the Met Office to commercial organisations.

A large number of Government and publicly‑funded bodies subscribe to Met Office services. Revenue from this sector in 2014-15 was approximately £187m, broken down as follows: (a) Public Weather Service - £114m (b) Defence - £33m and (c) Government strategic sectors - £40m. The terms of service provision are subject to periodic review and renegotiation.

Commercial revenue was £33m in 2014-15.

Met Office expenditure on research and development is detailed in its annual report and accounts. The amount spent in the last 5 years is set out below.