HC Deb 28 February 1968 vol 759 c365W
67. Mr. James Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what comparisons have been made by his Department between the cost of road construction in Scotland using tarmacadam and reinforced concrete.

Mr. Ross:

Because good roadstone for road construction using bitumen or tar-macadam is available throughout Scotland very few reinforced concrete roads have been built, but a recent experiment in concrete construction is now being evaluated.

68. Mr. James Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the sources, by quantity and place of origin, of all tar and aggregate used in the construction and repair of all public roads in Scotland since 1964.

Mr. Ross:

This information is not available in detail. Suitable aggregates are obtained from sources throughout Scotland. Tar is obtained from the Scottish Tar Distillers, Falkirk, but imported bitumen is also widely used.

Mr. James Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what comparisons have been made by his Department between the cost of maintenance of roads in Scotland of tarmacadam and reinforced concrete construction.

Mr. Ross:

As almost all Scottish roads are constructed of readily available road-stone, with tar or bitumen, and very few of concrete, no valid comparisons can yet be made of maintenance costs.