§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of the standing committee, set up as a result of the recommendations contained in the original Hoar Report on Corrosion, of which the aim will be to create a greater awareness among manufacturers, users, designers, and educationists, of the implications of the effects of corrosion;
(2) if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Transport and Road Research Laboratory and the motor industry on research projects to investigate the general problem of pitting in ferrous materials used in the construction of vehicles;
418W(3) what reports he has received from the department of automotive manufacture at the Cranfield Institute of Technology's School of Automotive Studies on the relationship between design and manufacture of vehicles, in connection with problems of rust and corrosion and eventual potential recycling of the vehicle.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThe standing Committee on Corrosion had its first meeting on 15th May and agreed a number of steps aimed at creating a greater awareness of the importance of the subject. It will be meeting again on 22nd June to prepare a five-year plan of action.
The problem of pitting of ferrous materials used in vehicle construction is a long-standing one to which much attention has been given by the motor industry, the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory and other organisations. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has developed a corrosion inhibitor which is now undergoing field trials to determine its suitability for use in vehicle underbody washing operations. This work is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport Industries but my Department is keeping in touch with progress. The Committee on Corrosion has a wide remit to consider all aspects of metallic corrosion, which will enable it to focus attention on this particular problem among others.
The Department has not commissioned the work being carried out by the School of Automotive Studies on the relationship between design and manufacture of vehicles in connection with rust and corrosion. No reports have therefore been received but the work is understood to be still in the exploratory stage. The school is represented on the Committee on Corrosion and will have the opportunity of making its views known on this or any other aspect of the subject.