16 February 2012 15:52 | By MSN UK News

Government minister set to visit Antarctica: what would you like to ask him?

We'd like to hear your suggestions for questions to put to David Willetts MP about his forthcoming trip to the Antarctica.

The Antarctic landscape (© AP Photo, Charles Hanley)

AP Photo, Charles Hanley

The universities and science minister David Willetts is about to embark on a trip to the British Antarctica Survey's base at Rothera. He'll be seeing the work done by British scientists to better understand the impact of environmental damage to the South Pole and to help our societies adapt to climate change.

The minister is making the trip almost 100 years since Captain Scott died returning from his failed attempt to be the first person to reach the South Pole.

Scott's mission was also a scientific one, and the many findings he and his crew made during their stay have influenced the study of the Antarctic to the present day.

MSN has a chance to put some of your questions to Mr Willetts before he leaves for the British Antarctica Survey base.

You might like to ask him about the government's views on climate change, or the importance of the exploration of the Antarctic; whether the South Pole should be used to drill for oil and other minerals, or even what he is particularly hoping to learn from his visit.

Email your suggestions to us, including your name and location.

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39Comments
patricia clyde (goodbyeukasweknewit)
20/02/2012 16:14
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take all 654 mps and leave them there, where they can do no damage!!!!
Vic SSSSSSH (GALLEYSLAVE)
20/02/2012 12:10
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Has he got permission from the penguins? only they have the right to be there...
garry thornton (Fozzo)
20/02/2012 12:09
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If, there was such a thing as global warming, why does it affect my finances? surely the government (if it's that serious), should be giving us money to combat it, like paying for our solar panels, or giving us electric cars! That DOES make sense! or am I missing something?
Malcolm Martyn (tommytippy)
20/02/2012 10:23
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oh and make sure he only gets a freight ticket as business class takes the p i s s

Malcolm Martyn (tommytippy)
20/02/2012 10:21
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Take them all there and forget to bring them back
Margaret White
20/02/2012 09:46
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What Climate Change??  Accotding to the Met. Office, global temperatures have NOT increased for the past 15 years!
Tug Mann (tug29)
20/02/2012 04:40
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Mr Willets,

A few facts to save you going,

Its cold, its dark at night, its light during the day, the ice is very hard, it can be very windy,

it can be sunny (but still cold) it can be blowing a blizzard, now if you find out anything else

please keep it to yourself, because it will no doubt be very boring and of no interest to any

of us.

PS, Do, sorry Don't eat the yellow snowI don't know

Someone
19/02/2012 22:56
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would like to ask david willetts and all the other ministers, lords, and out of touch morons that supposedly run this country to read all the comments  on this article and actually get a picture of opinion and reality in this fast declining country. do they not realise with all their hair brained ideas, spending, charity to worthless countries,immigration and farcical  spending the country is on an irreversible downward spiral and will soon be a third world country like all the ones it wastes cash sending to.
Someone
19/02/2012 13:01
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British Antarctic Survey is a total waste of taxpayers money and should be cut NOW
Tony Coppens
19/02/2012 12:38
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can he not take the rest of his cronies with him and stop there
Malcolm Cutler
19/02/2012 11:32
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Hope you have a nice trip Dave, don't forget to buy the most expensive protective clothing and footwear as I'm told it gets a bit cold down there, just stick 'em on expenses we'll pay for them. Don't worry about transport as the British Antarctic Survey guys have their own aircraft and helicopters to ferry you around. Oh!, and don't forget to notify the DWP that you are going to be out of the country so they can stop your housing benefit ( AKA second home allowance ) like they do with us other scrounging scumbags.
Locutus Sixtyseven (airspotter uk)
19/02/2012 10:32
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what is he going to find out?, why doesn't he just look at the emperical data from the people already there?

Does he know what he is looking at?

Is he qualified to make his own mind up as to what is happening?

Surely, a video link and a radio should be able to show him what he needs to know, without him having to use all the fossil fuel to get there himself, or couldn't he afford an antarctic cruise, even one of those at tax payers expense would be cheaper than the cost of running him and his entourage on a singular trip.

 

Tony Lawrence (MYERS)
19/02/2012 00:56
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WHATS REALLY GOING ON?AND WHO ARE THE MEEK?
Tony Lawrence (MYERS)
19/02/2012 00:54
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FIRST OFF.THERES ALOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN ANTARCTICA.THERES AFEW NATIONS SUPPPOSED OF DOING SURVEYS?.OR ARE THERE ALL THERE CHECKING OUT PLANET X?...THEN WHAT ARE THEY THERE BUILDING IN ANTARTIC? ... WHAT I ASK?........DEEP TUNNELS? I ASK ?...ILL ASK THE QUESTION. HOW MANY GOVERMENTS DOES IT TAKE TO DO A SURVEY?....ANSWER...​....AFEW MORE THEN WE ARE LEAD TO BELEIVE!...OR "WHAT HE IS PARTICULARLY HOPING TO LEARN FROM VISIT".......WHAT ARE THE GOVERMENTS TRACKING? .IF THATS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK?..BUT BEING A TAX PAYEE.WILL I GET THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?....I ASK MY SELF? ITS A BIT LIKE ASKING ...DO I TRUST OUR GOVERMENT/ ANSWER .......NO I DONT   :0|
Steve Gray (Stevie57)
18/02/2012 22:02
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Steve Parkin, you sound as if you believe that this creature and his cronies actually give a damn about you and your children / grandchildren.  They dont !  They couldnt care less about you or any of us.  They are in it for themselves.  The environment means nothing, the population means nothing.  They are all 100% corrupt from top to bottom.  Unemployment up to 2.6 million, prices rocketing for food, gas, petrol / diesel, insurance and just about everything else I can think of.  And what do they do ?  Try to put the blame for all our problems on the disabled and try to force them off benefits.  ( And before any smartass mentions it, I dont mean the tiny percentage of fiddlers who the government are as usual exagerating about. )
Steve Parkin
18/02/2012 15:00
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Dear David, I sincerely hope that your trip to the Antarctic will be an enlightening experience for you and truely open up your eyes to the fragile and delicate balance of our beautiful and blessed planet Earth, may you return home inspired and invigorated ready to take on the crucial and hugely important task you and all of us have in hand, to help provide a stable future for our children and to build a truely sustainable and just society for years to come. We are at a pivotal moment in our evolution and your role is key as to how this will develop over the coming years! Do you have children/grandchildr​en? I would be interested in hearing how you feel about this and also how your experience influences your policies, do keep me posted and have a happy and safe journey, Yours Steve  Smile


M N
18/02/2012 14:01
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Nooooooooooooooooooo​oo

 

ALL THAT HOT AIR FROM WILLETTS WILL EXACERBATE GLOBAL WARMING

 

KEEP THE CLOWN AWAY

michael marshall (mickmp)
18/02/2012 13:46
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before flying there he should research the size of the eu/government buildings carbon footprints including all the air travel junkets they go on ,and also the size of ex enviroment minister chris huhne, eight houses and hes forcing green taxes and useless windfarms on me
Steven Rowan (steven9761)
18/02/2012 13:38
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Mr Willetts - if you go to the biscuit aisle in your local supermarket, you can p-p-p-pick up a Penguin there!!
Steven Rowan (steven9761)
18/02/2012 13:36
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Mr Willetts - is this purely a fact-finding mission, or do you intend to do a spot of sun-bathing at the British taxpayers' expense? ;-)
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