Dr. Bennettasked the Minister of Transport if he will obtain from the Road Research Laboratory and publish an assessment of the recent test carried out by the American Association of State Highway Officials on the respective merits of asphalt and concrete road surfaces, whether reinforced or without reinforcement, on various thicknesses of bases.
§ Mr. MarplesThis test has been closely followed by my Department and the Road Research Laboratory. The Laboratory is studying the results. I am advised that it is extremely doubtful whether any clear conclusions can be drawn from these results in relation to road surfaces in Great Britain where traffic and climatic conditions are different from those of the test. It is unlikely, therefore, that any modification of the specification now used in Great Britain for concrete and asphalt surfaces wilt be called for.