§ Mr. Moyleasked the Minister of Transport what research he is promoting into the boring of large diameters in clay and the attendant design and construction hazards.
§ Mr. MarshAt the present time my Department is not directly sponsoring any research into the specific problems of tunnelling in clay and the attendant hazards.
I am, however, fully aware of the importance of reducing tunnelling costs, particularly as a contribution to easing traffic congestion in urban areas. With this in mind my Department is taking the lead in an inter-departmental study, centred on the Joint Transport Research Committee, to establish the need for improved methods of tunnelling in all geological conditions, the implications of cost reduction on demand, the required programme of research and development, and the case for Government support. For some time we have also been conducting a survey of related public and private interests, including those of the tunnelling industry, and this will be the basis of a United Kingdom contribution to an organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development Conference on Tunnelling to be held in May 1970.