§ 44. Sir Clive Bossomasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made by the Road 395 Research Laboratory in its work on preventing vehicle corrosion, for example, by the aluminising of steel and the production of a cheap alternative to road salt.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe Road Research Laboratory is not involved in work on the aluminising of steel, which is a matter for the Motor Industries Research Association. The R.R.L. is testing the effectiveness of inhibitors for reducing corrosion caused by salt. I know of no alternative as cheap or effective as salt for improving road surface conditions in icy weather.
§ Sir Clive BossomWill my hon. Friend continue to press on with this much-needed research? It is now estimated that corrosion is costing £14 million a year on silencers and approximately £50 million a year on vehicles.
§ Mr. GriffithsYes. I can tell my hon. Friend that seven new saloon cars are currently carrying out tests but in view of the need to test conditions both this winter and next, I do not expect that there will be results to report until 1972.