§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment precisely what advice he gave to MOT testers concerning the use of only hand and thumb pressure for testing rust; and in what form.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Department's advice to nominated testers is to press against a component which is suspected of being corroded either with the fingers or a blunt instrument and if necessary to follow this with a tapping of the component with a light hammer and to listen for the difference in sound between metal unaffected by corrosion and a defective component.
This advice is given orally when technical officers make their periodic visits to testing stations, at departmental training courses for testers, and at meetings organised by the appropriate trade associations. It is my intention to issue written advice at the next available opportunity.