HC Deb 03 February 1959 vol 599 c180
9. Mr. Atkins

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what use is being made of modern geophysical methods by the Geological Survey of Great Britain.

Mr. H. Nicholls

The Geological Survey has for some years been interested in geophysical methods and for the past ten years has been collecting geophysical data concerning Great Britain from all possible sources. Gravity surveying has been conducted over much of Great Britain with varying degrees of detail. An area of 50,000 square miles of England and adjacent sea has been covered by airborne magnetic survey, and 4,000 square miles of Cornwall and Devon by airborne radiometric survey.

Mr. Atkins

Is this geophysical survey done by the Geological Survey itself?

Mr. Nicholls

The Geological Survey carries out gravity, magnetic, electrical and some shallow seismic ground surveys, using its own staff.