§ Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to deal with the extensive dislocation of traffic on road and rail in the event of further adverse weather conditions; what research is taking place to cope with frost on roads and rails; and whether the recent experiment on a snowed-up stretch of railway line at Didcot where experts tried out a cheap de-icing compound was a success and is likely to be adopted.
§ Mr. MarplesI am having a review made of experience on highways in the last few weeks to see whether we can improve the arrangements for keeping open the main traffic routes. The railway authorities are responsible for action to combat the effects of adverse weather on railway operations. I understand that they are already examining the lessons of the recent cold weather with a view to further research and the introduction of additional preventive measures where they can be justified.
Technical guidance was issued last autumn to local highway authorities about precautions against frost, which embodied the results of experimental work. My Department have developed and are developing equipment for the rapid and efficient spreading of salt. Experiments are being made with an electronic device for giving automatic advance warning of the imminent formation of ice on road surfaces. The Road Research Laboratory are carrying out research in the design of snow ploughs. The railways are carrying out intensive research, particularly into the methods of de-icing points. I am asking them to pay special attention to the problems of dealing with snow and ice in the proposals for future research programmes which they will put to me under the Transport Act, 1962. The experiment at Didcot has had promising results so far but trials have not yet been completed.