§ 8. Mr. Rankinasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the 860 Council, what experiments are now taking place at the Road Research Laboratory at East Kilbride to further road safety by electrical, or other methods; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Harmar Nicholls)The programme of research carried out by the Road Research Laboratory includes work on the electrical heating of road surfaces, the prevention of snowdrifts by snow fences, and chemical and mechanical means of removing ice and snow from roads. The Scottish branch at East Kilbride participates in this work, keeps in close touch with Scottish problems and assists in disseminating the results of this work in Scotland.
§ Mr. RankinIs not the hon. Gentleman being a little too cautious? Can he say what results are being achieved, and, if any, would they have been of any use in the building of the Preston by-pass, for example? Is he aware that during this winter Everton Football Club have been using this method of surface heating throughout the season with great success and have been able to play all their games? Would it not be possible to apply that method to road surfaces?
§ Mr. NichollsAs the hon. Gentleman will remember, in an Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Jennings) on 18th November, I recognised the success of electrically heating road surfaces. Good results are being achieved from this research, as is being shown by the way abnormal weather conditions are being dealt with. The Scottish branch is a branch of the main laboratory at Harmondsworth, Middlesex, but the branch deals with Scottish problems, making full use of its special experiences of local conditions.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Edinburgh Corporation is at present considering electrifying the road in the Mound for this purpose?
§ Mr. NichollsYes, Sir.