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Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 520W, on road works injuries, what safety guidelines are issued to contractors working on the road; and what plans the Government have to introduce further safety measures for contractors working on the roads. [57930]
Dr. Whitehead: Following is a list of documents which provide safety guidelines for contractors working on the road:
Planning for SafetyGuidance notes for the health and safety of workers at in-service motorway roadwork sites (Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions)
The Mobile Lane Closure TechniqueTD49/97 (Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions)
Notes for Guidance on Safety at RoadworkCounty Surveyors Society and Department Transport (Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions)
Safety at Street Works and Road Works: A Code of Practice (Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions)
Crossing high-speed roads on foot during temporary traffic- management worksCIS 53 (Health and safety Executive).
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has commissioned into the prevention of rail failures and accidents. [58207]
Mr. Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive and the Office of the Rail Regulator jointly funded research into the causation and treatment of gauge corner cracking by Arup and Partners International Ltd., and the Transportation Technology Centre Incorporated. Additional research is currently planned into track integrity and the effect on rolling stock.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what alterations were made to Railtrack plc's safety case following the appointment of an administrator. [58019]
Mr. Byers: On 8 October 2001, following Railtrack plc's entry into railway administration and consequent changes to the organisation, the HSE directed Railtrack plc to prepare and submit a revision to its safety case. Railtrack plc complied with the direction and HSE
23 May 2002 : Column 511W
accepted this revised safety case, covering minor administrative and organisational changes, on 14 November 2001.
In compliance with the requirements of the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000, Railtrack plc submitted a new thoroughly revised safety case to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on 28 June 2001. The HSE process of assessment was completed and the safety case was accepted on 1 May 2002.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received over the past six months about the condition of the railway track between Colchester and London Liverpool Street from (a) Railtrack, (b) train operating companies, (c) rail unions and (d) others; and if he will make a statement. [58615]
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many incidents of (a) terrorist activity and (b) suspected terrorist activity have been recorded by (i) the British Transport Police and (ii) other organisations relating to the railways in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [58192]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 22 May 2002]: After consultation with the British Transport Police, I can confirm that since 1997 the following numbers of incidents have been recorded in relation to security of the UK's rail network:
1998: 280 threats, 0 viable devices or explosions, 30 hoax bomb items
1999: 323 threats, 0 viable devices or explosions, 20 hoax bomb items
2000: 253 threats, two viable devices or explosions, 10 hoax bomb items
2001: 347 threats, three viable devices or explosions, 18 hoax bomb items (plus 94 hoax biological items, eg white powder)
2002: 58 threats, 0 viable devices or explosions, 9 hoax bomb items.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to combat acts of vandalism on railway lines; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of anti-vandalism programmes on the railways. [58200]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 22 May 2002]: The problem of vandalism on the railways is taken very seriously by the Government, the Health and Safety Executive, Railtrack, the British Transport police and the railway industry.
23 May 2002 : Column 512W
Current initiatives to reduce vandalism on the rail network include:
"National Route Crime Week" 1725 June sponsored by the National Co-ordinating Group for Trespass and Vandalism (an SRA/Railway Safety body). There will be a number of activities including an open debate at the Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) Rail Industry Advisory Committee meeting on 25 June;
Industry programmes for reducing vandalism, including a range of targeted engineering measures such as improved railway fencing and caging bridges at vulnerable locations. HMRI monitor these programmes and take action if necessary.
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 22 May 2002]: Information held by the British Transport police on reported vandalism offences (there is no defined difference between informed and non-informed vandalism) in each of the last five years is contained in the following table:
Number of offences | |
---|---|
199798 | 13,751 |
199899 | 12,855 |
19992000 | 13,743 |
200001 | 13,349 |
200102 | 15,075 |
Information held by the British Transport police on adults/juveniles charged or summonsed to court for vandalism from 199899 onwards is contained in the following table (due to archiving issues the BTP are unable to supply data prior to this data):
Number | |
---|---|
199899 | 2,262 |
19992000 | 1,928 |
200001 | 1,963 |
200102 | 2,200 |
Note:
Those persons charged or summonsed to court may or may not have been convicted and the data do not include cautions.
Information held by the British Transport police on reported trespass offences in each of the last five years is contained in the following table:
Number of reported trespass offences | |
---|---|
199798 | 17,451 |
199899 | 16,535 |
19992000 | 13,896 |
200001 | 14,964 |
200102 | 15,395 |
Information held by the British Transport police on adults/juveniles charged or summonsed to court for
23 May 2002 : Column 513W
trespassing from 199899 onwards is contained in the following table (due to archiving issues the BTP are unable to supply data prior to this data):
Number | |
---|---|
199899 | 1,170 |
19992000 | 973 |
200001 | 1,215 |
200102 | 903 |
Note:
Those persons charged or summonsed to court may or may not have been convicted and the data do not include cautions.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those groups and individuals from which he has taken advice in preparing the UK's strategy for mass decontamination in the event of (a) chemical and (b) biological attack. [50857]
Mr. Hutton: In preparing the United Kingdom's response, advice has been taken from the following sources:
Ambulance Services Association
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
The nuclear industry, including Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group, National Radiological Protection Board, and Atomic Weapons Establishment
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Environment Agency
Civil Contingency Secretariat
Health and Safety Executive
Defence and Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Centre
London Resilience Committee
Association of Chief Police Officers
Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association
Local Government Association.
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