§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the functions of the Soil Survey of England and Wales include the survey of minerals below the subsoil.
§ Mr. BrookeI understand from the Agricultural and Food Research Council that the soil survey makes observations to 1.25 metres depth. Occasionally the survey samples the soil and describes it to a greater depth in order to determine the nature of its parent material. In some districts, studies of this kind have contributed substantially to our knowledge of sand and gravel resources.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library a map showing the most up-to-date state of the national soil survey, together with the relevant statistical data.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Agricultural and Food Research Council is arranging for such a map to be placed in the Library. The statistical data are voluminous and it would be helpful if my hon. Friend could indicate his requirements in that area more precisely.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Soil Survey of England and Wales was set up; and what are its precise objectives.
§ Mr. BrookeThe soil survey of England and Wales was established in 1939, though it did not operate during World War 2 and eventually began operations in 1946. Its headquarters is at the Rothamstead experimental station, Hertfordshire, which is a state-aided agricultural research institute supported by the AFRC.
369WThe overall aim of the survey is to evaluate the soil resources of England and Wales and to contribute to their efficient and careful use. More specifically the objectives are to:
- —Assemble information about soil types, their distribution and variability throughout the landscape;
- —Organise the information in terms of a national classification system;
- —Produce maps to show the spatial distribution of soil types;
- —Liaise with users in the interpretation of information for specific purposes;
- —Develop a soil information system.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the annual cost of the Soil Survey of England and Wales.
§ Mr. BrookeI understand that, on the basis of full economic cost which is the Agricultural and Food Research Council's normal method of assessing the cost of commissioned research work, the current annual cost of the survey is £1.7 million.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what areas have so far been reconnaissance-surveyed by the Soil Survey of England and Wales; and at what cost;
(2) what areas have so far been surveyed in detail by the Soil Survey of England and Wales; and at what cost.
§ Mr. BrookeI understand that the whole of England and Wales has been surveyed at a reconnaissance level (1 : 250,000); this part of the work began in 1978 and took five years at a total cost of about £6.5 million. About 20 per cent. of the country has been surveyed in detail (1 : 25,000 to 1 : 63,360) at a cost of about £5.5 million over the last 12 years.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people are currently employed on the Soil Survey of England and Wales.
§ Mr. BrookeSixty-nine.