| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Bletchley to Bicester Railway Line
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review proposals for the re-opening of passenger and freight services on the Bletchley to Bicester railway line. [177]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The East-West Rail Consortium, which is considering the possible re-opening of an East-West rail link north of London, has recently received a Phase II feasibility report. It is too early to say whether the work in hand will result in a viable proposal which the Government would be able to support.
Fishing Vessels (Safety)
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many fishermen on UK-registered flag of convenience fishing vessels have satisfied the conditions laid down in the Fishing Vessels (Safety Training) Regulations 1989; what steps can be taken to prevent those who do not comply with this regulation from fishing on UK-registered vessels; and if he will make a statement; [748]
- (2) what steps are being taken to ensure flag of convenience fishing vessels fishing against the UK quota are complying with UK safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [749]
20 May 1997 : Column: 50
Ms Glenda Jackson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Alex Salmond, dated 20 May 1997:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question, transferred from the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, about the safety training of crew working on UK registered fishing vessels and to your Question, transferred from the Secretary of State for Scotland, about fishing vessel compliance with safety regulations.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funds he will make available to Suffolk county council for the construction of the Old London road link road at Capel St. Mary on the A12. [654]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Pound Lane Cap Closure and Old London Road scheme on the A12 trunk road at Capel St. Mary is being promoted and entirely funded by the Highways Agency. No funds will be made available to Suffolk County Council.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he proposes to take to ensure that Eurotunnel implements all the recommendations in the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority report before re-starting freight services. [5]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government's concerns about the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority report have been put to the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) by the UK delegation. As a result the IGC has requested from Eurotunnel a detailed timetable of its programme for meeting the Safety Authority recommendations for consideration by the IGC at its next meeting on 22 May 1997.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the technical difficulties with the crossover doors in the channel tunnel have been resolved; and if he will make a statement. [7]
Ms Jackson:
Since the incident of the 18 November 1996, the undersea crossover doors have been subject to an enhanced testing and maintenance regime by Eurotunnel, which will continue. This has achieved a much higher level of reliability than previously obtained. The test reports are regularly examined by the Channel
20 May 1997 : Column: 51
Tunnel Safety Authority whose inspectors also inspect and report on maintenance and testing as part of their normal on-going duties.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority has estimated the cost to Eurotunnel of implementing the recommendations in its recent report into the channel tunnel fire. [56]
Ms Jackson:
The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority made its recommendations on safety grounds and did not estimate any costs for implementation.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority has taken to ensure that Eurotunnel had full safety training and audits in place for its staff. [59]
Ms Jackson:
Safety training is one of the key elements identified by the Safety Authority in Eurotunnel's proposals for the restart of HGV shuttle services. The Safety Authority will carefully examine Eurotunnel's reports on their certification of staff trained in new procedures, including the report of an independent assessor, before making any recommendation to the Intergovernmental Commission.
More generally, the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and its specialist working groups meet regularly with Eurotunnel to review the safe operation of the Channel Tunnel. The Safety Authority also has 22 safety inspectors available from national authorities who conduct regular safety inspections and check the performance of Eurotunnel's Safety Directorate.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will reinstate the travel passes withdrawn from those employees of the BREL who were made redundant; and if he will make a statement on the provision of travel passes to employees and past employees in the privatised railway. [32]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Travel concessions for ex-BREL staff are a matter for ADtranz (ABB Daimler Benz Transportation Ltd.).
In privatisation resulting from the Railways Act 1993, travel entitlements for staff in post prior to 31 March 1996 were contained in contracts of employment which transferred to the new employers under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. Travel concessions for staff taken on by these employers after 31 March 1996 are a matter for the employer. Travel concessions for railways staffing privatisation before this Act were separately negotiated for each sale.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of freight train derailments in each of the last 12 months, listing the date and location of each one. [62]
20 May 1997 : Column: 52
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Provisional figures reported to the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate show that for the latest available 12 month period covering 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997, there have been 80 freight train derailments on the national railway network. These derailments are listed by date and location as follows:
The onus for complying with the Fishing Vessels (Safety Training) Regulations 1989 rests on the individuals concerned and on the skippers and owners of their vessels. We do not hold data on which crew members meet the requirements and which do not (those crew members born before 1 March 1954 do not need to meet the requirements) but we have asked the Seafish Industry Authority for advice on the information held in their database about fishermen who have undergone safety training.
The Marine Safety Agency monitors compliance with all fishing vessel safety regulations by means of inspections of the vessels. If such an inspection finds non-compliance the vessel may be detained and the owner and the skipper can be prosecuted. In the particular case of safety training regulations, if any of the crew members do not comply, the owner of the vessel, the skipper and the individuals concerned can be prosecuted.
20 May 1997 : Column: 53
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of freight train derailments in the 12 months (a) preceding and (b) following rail privatisation. [63]
Ms Jackson: The rail privatisation process has occurred in stages since 1 April 1994. Statistics for freight train derailments are compiled by the Health and Safety Executive on an annual basis and the following table gives the figures for the preceding and subsequent years.
| Year | Number of freight train derailments |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 78 |
| 1994-95 | 105 |
| 1995-96 | 74 |
| 1996-97(3) | 80 |
(3) Provisional.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |