§ Mr. Marplesasked the Minister of Transport if he will list the five problems on the solution of which the Road Research Laboratory is spending most money in the current financial year, showing estimated expenditure in the current year and in the next two financial years and the total cost to date on each of the problems.
§ Mr. MarshThe research programme of the Road Research Laboratory is divided into 17 main areas. Their order, in terms of resources, can only be determined on a rather arbitrary basis. On80W the basis of the research staff effort devoted to them the five largest are:
Estimates Expenditure Possible Expenditure 1968–69 1969–70 1. Research into road user behaviour, training etc., and child road safety 110,000 200,000 2. Vehicle design: methods of reducing accident injuries 200,000 150,000 3. Bridge design problems* 170,000 210,000 4. Road making material 130,000 130,000 5. Road construction methods and maintenance 120,000 180,000 Details of the research programmes under these five headings are given in the Laboratory's Annual Report "Road Research" and also in their "Annual Research Programme".
Figures are not yet available for estimated expenditure under the five headings for 1970–71.
As the programmes under the various headings are continuing ones, the total cost to date under each heading is not available.