§ 12. Mr. Swinglerasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how many persons are at present occupied in official geological research; what steps he is taking to extend this research; and if he will consult the Minister of Transport about ways and means of achieving the most effective employment of geologists on the planning of roads.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethFive hundred and eighteen persons are employed on geological research by the research councils, an increase of 23 per cent. in the last five years.
The advice of geologists in the Geological Survey and in the Road Research Laboratory is available to my right hon. Friend and his agents.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is obviously considerable room for improvement, both in research and in its application? If he has any doubts about this, would he enter into consultation with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport about 1099 the amount of wastage and inefficiency that have occurred in the construction of the M.6 motorway, as a result obviously of a failure to employ sufficiently qualified geologists to do the initial work?
§ Mr. FreethI think we must remember that not only is geology important but that pedology is equally important, and a great deal of research is going on in both these fields.