§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Technology (1) what he is doing to implement the recommendation of the Jost Committee that several national centres in 164W lubrication engineering should be established to become Institutes of Tribology;
(2) whether, in view of the existence at the National Engineering Laboratory of a highly qualified team of engineers and scientists engaged on industrially orientated research and development in the fields of machine design and control, computer-aided design, and new metal forming processes, and of the availability of the Scottish Universities Training Reactor, the Glasgow University Linear Accelerator, and the Institute of Advance Machine Tool and Control Technology, he will site an institute of tribology at East Kilbride;
(3) what estimation he has made of the potential nucleus of skilled manpower for an institute of tribology at East Kilbride;
(4) what he is doing to encourage studies in tribology in Scotland;
(5) what he is doing to encourage studies in tribology;
(6) if he will give an estimate of the figure for losses in British industry due to insufficient attention to the use of lubricants and tribological studies.
§ Dr. BrayThe annual cost to British Industry of faulty lubrication, arising from various causes, has been estimated at £500,000,000 by the Lubrication Engineering (Education and Research) Working Group whose report was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in February, 1966. In September, 1966, my right hon. Friend set up a Committee on Tribology. He is expecting to receive the Committee's report shortly, the terms of which will be made known to the House as soon as possible. If a centre is to be set up in Scotland he will of course take into consideration the skills and expertise available at East Kilbride.