HC Deb 03 February 1959 vol 599 cc178-80
8. Sir W. Anstruther-Gray

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a statement on the progress made by his research department into the electrical heating of limited stretches of road which are particularly prone to accidents from ice in frosty weather.

Mr. H. Nicholls

There has been satisfactory progress so far on the experiments for the electrical heating of road surfaces. Experimental surfaces of this kind were laid at West Drayton, Middlesex, in 1956 and the results of these experiments and the advice of the laboratory are at the disposal of any highway authority that may wish to apply this method to particular stretches of roads. It can most readily be installed in a new road or on stretches due for resurfacing. The method has so far been confined to steep slopes.

Sir W. Anstruther-Gray

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Has he or his research department been consulted with regard to the electrical heating of the road at The Mound, in Edinburgh, and can he say what would be the cost of that project?

Mr. Nicholls

I do not have the cost in mind at the moment, but it is very near to the figure mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend himself in a recent debate. I believe that he said that the cost of installation would be about 30s. per square yard of road surface, and that the running costs, depending upon the climate, would be about 2s. 6d. a square yard in the winter. I think that those were the figures he gave, and they are not very far off the mark.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Is not it regrettable that this method was not employed on the Preston by-pass? Can the hon. Member say what would be the cost of installing this on the by-pass, now that it is under repair?

Mr. Nicholls

I do not think that that comes within the orbit of my Department.

13. Mr. Rankin

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, on what roads in Scotland electrical methods of heating are being experimented with; and with what success.

Mr. H. Nicholls

No experiments with electrical heating are at present being undertaken on roads in Scotland. Plans are, however, being considered for a heating system to be installed during reconstruction of The Mound in Edinburgh where instruments will record temperatures and current consumption and so provide the Road Research Laboratory with valuable data. The laboratory has also assisted in the preliminary design of a heating system for the approaches to the proposed tunnel under the Clyde at Whiteinch, Glasgow.

Mr. Rankin

Can the hon. Gentleman explain how the electrical system is switched on and off? Can he also say what encouragement is given to local authorities to use this system in the construction of new roads?

Mr. Nicholls

The answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is interesting. The electrical heating is switched on by a thermostat which operates when the road surface temperature approaches freezing point. It is combined with a hydrostat, which means that current is switched on only when there is moisture on the road surface. If there is intense cold without the road being damp, no current is used. I think this an interesting invention, and we hope that the information conveyed in the form of Questions such as that put by the hon. Member, and the Answers to them, will assist in bringing the benefits of this invention to the notice of bodies which can make practical use of it.

Mr. Rankin

Will the hon. Gentleman reply to the second part of my supplementary question?

Mr. Nicholls

How this knowledge is utilised is not the responsibility of my noble Friend, although this method of Parliamentary Question and Answer helps people to know what has been achieved by research.