§ 14. Mr. Robert Jenkinsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been make in predicting whether the soil at any proposed building site is likely to be unduly corrosive to buried metal and pipe work; and what station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is prepared to give advice on this matter.
§ Mr. H. NichollsConsiderable progress has been made. Prediction is not a simple matter because it involves bacterial examination as well as chemical analysis of soils, and requires a close acquaintance with the influence of bacteria on the corrosion of metals. The National Chemical Laboratory can provide such a service. For example, it has made a soil examination recently for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at its Win-frith Heath site, in Dorset.
§ Mr. JenkinsIs it becoming customary for this advice to be sought?
§ Mr. NichollsYes. At present people seek advice after corrosion has taken place. We hope that people engaged on important projects will realise that this information is available to them before pipes are inserted into the ground and that it will assist them in selecting the best type of metal to be used.