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Island Line
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for adding the Island Line to the London to Portsmouth railway franchise. [59176]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
At the time the South West Trains franchise replacement process commenced the Strategic Rail Authority considered that the best solution for the Island Line was that it should become A separate micro- franchise. The authority is currently giving further consideration to the future of the Island Line in the light of the consultants' report on future options produced in September 2001 and will make a further announcement in due course.
Crossrail
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2002, Official Report, column 567W, on Crossrail, who the key stakeholders involved in the consultation period are; how the consultation will be carried out; and who will be funding the consultation process, and at what financial cost. [59549]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 24 May 2002]: I have been asked to reply.
The key stakeholders which are about to be consulted on the shortlisted Crossrail route options are "line of route" local authorities, development partnerships and significant businesses, either individually or through their representative bodies.
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The consultation will be carried out by Cross London Rail Links Ltd., who will be distributing a consultation document, and providing individual and group briefings and presentations as appropriate. I am arranging for a copy of the stakeholder consultation document to be placed in the Library.
The cost of the stakeholder consultation exercise is included in Cross London Rail Link's Crossrail project development budget, and has not been broken down separately.
Road Bridges
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures he intends to take to improve road bridges over railway lines as a result of the Great Heck accident. [59371]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
The Minister for Transport announced in the House on 25 February 2002, Official Report, columns 803–04W, that we had accepted all the recommendations in the reports of the Health and Safety Commission and the Highways Agency into the various issues involving road vehicles obstructing the railway following the Great Heck road/rail accident. There are five streams of work arising from these recommendations:
- the development of a protocol for apportioning responsibility and costs of improvements made at locations where roads meet, cross or run close to railways;
the development of tools and data for use at the local level to assess the risk of vehicles leaving the road and getting onto the railway;
the development of good practice guidance on measures to help manage risk at specific sites;
identification of the relevant information that it would be practicable and useful to collect about incidents where road vehicles get onto railway property; and
updating the standards for safety barriers on major roads in a clear and open procedure.
Any measures taken as a result of this work will be the responsibility of the highway authorities and rail infrastructure authorities.
Rail Bridges
Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the risk assessment of rail bridge safety he ordered as a result of the Great Heck incident. [60409]
Mr. Jamieson: We have accepted all the recommendations in the reports of the Health and Safety Commission and the Highways Agency into the various issues involving road vehicles obstructing the railway following the Great Heck road/rail accident. Representatives
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from highway authorities, rail infrastructure authorities and rail safety organisations are supporting this Department in taking forward work on:
- the development of a protocol for apportioning responsibility and costs of improvements made at locations where roads meet, cross or run close to railways.
The development of tools and data for use at the local level to assess the risk of vehicles leaving the road and getting onto the railway; and
the development of good practice guidance on measures to help manage risk at specific sites.
We have also endorsed the prioritisation tool produced by Railtrack and the CSS (formerly the County Surveyors' Society) and have encouraged highway authorities and rail infrastructure authorities to use it on the bridges for which they are responsible.
Any measures taken as a result of this work will be the responsibility of the highway authorities and rail infrastructure authorities.
Rail Safety
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with British Transport Police regarding possible incidents involving track (a) maintenance and (b) vandalism at (i) Severn tunnel junction, (ii) Bristol parkway and (iii) other locations since January 2000; and if he will make a statement. [59886]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
None. There have been no discussions between the Department and British Transport Police (BTP) on specific incidents. However, I understand from BTP that they and the Health and Safety Executive work together closely on them.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the proposed railway safety body will be established; what its remit is; what the role of (a) contractors and (b) sub- contractors will be within this body; and if he will make a statement. [59889]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
The Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR) are consulting on a proposed licence modification which would enable the proposed railway industry safety body (RISB) to be established without primary legislation. The RISB would take the role of an industry safety body as recommended by Lord Cullen in his part 2 report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. The involvement of contractors and sub- contractors in the decision-making processes of RISB forms part of ORR's consultation. If there is agreement to proceed by way of a licence change modification, ORR expect RISB to be in place by the end of the year.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the proposed rail accident investigation body will be
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established; what its remit is; what the expected role of (a) contractors and (b) sub-contractors will be within this body; and if he will make a statement. [59888]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
We expect to consult this summer on proposals for the establishment of an independent rail accident investigation branch (RAIB) before publishing the necessary primary legislation. The remit of the RAIB will be subject to consultation but will reflect the recommendations made by Lord Cullen in his part 2 report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. The role of contractors or sub-contractors within RAIB would be as witnesses, when appropriate, during investigations.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many incidents of motor vehicles colliding with trains on railway lines at level crossings there have been in each year since 1997; in which locations; and if he will make a statement. [59885]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
Incidents of motor vehicles colliding with trains on railway lines at level crossings since 1997 is as follows:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 24 |
| 1998–99 | 27 |
| 1999–2000 | 24 |
| 2000–01 | 24 |
| 2001–02 | 16 |
The locations of these incidents are as follows:
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Level crossing accidents in Great Britain are among the lowest in Europe. However, as about 33 per cent. of railway collisions occur on level crossings they still present a significant area of risk. Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) are currently developing plans for a level crossing working party to critically look at all level crossing issues from first principles.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes are proposed to the remit of the HMRI in relation to railway (a) inspection, (b) safety cases and (c) accident investigation; what changes are proposed to the role of (i) contractors and (ii) sub-contractors within the HMRI; and if he will make a statement. [59890]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
No changes are planned to the remit of HMRI or to the role of contractors and sub-contractors within HMRI.
Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary legislation, in future the Rail Accident Investigation Branch will have lead responsibility for rail accident investigation but HMRI will retain responsibility for breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what recent representations he has received in relation to the role of contractors in (a) inspection, (b) safety cases and (c) accident investigation; and if he will make a statement; [59956]
- (2) what discussions he has had with (a) Railtrack, (b) the HSE, (c) the HSC and (d) other organisations in relation to the role of contractors in (i) inspection, (ii) safety cases and (iii) accident investigation; and if he will make a statement; [59959]
(3) if he will make a statement on the role of contractors in the railway industry in relation to (a) safety inspection, (b) safety cases and (c) accident investigation; and if he will make a statement. [59957]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
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On 23 May, the then Secretary of State met with key players in the railway industry to discuss the issue of contractors in the railway industry. He also received a letter and report on this issue from the chair of the Health and Safety Commission on Friday 31 May, copies of which are available in the House Libraries.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposals for establishment of a railway industry safety body; and if he will place the consultation papers in the Library. [60596]
Mr. Jamieson: The Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR) are consulting on a licence modification which would enable the proposed railway industry safety body (RISB) to be established without primary legislation. If there is agreement to proceed by way of a licence change modification, ORR expects RISB to be in place by the end of the year. A copy of the consultation document was placed in the Library by the ORR in December 2001, it is also available on the ORR website www.rail-reg.gov.uk.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the programme of safety tours that the chief executive officer of Railtrack undertakes. [60610]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department does not hold the information requested, although I understand that the chief executive officer and other senior staff undertake such safety-related activities on a continuing basis.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings he has had with Railtrack officials since the Southwell rail accident. [60597]
Mr. Jamieson: Ministers have regularly met Railtrack board members and officials since September 1997.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the primary legislation required to set up the Railway Accident Investigation Branch will be published. [60607]
Mr. Jamieson: Lord Cullen recommended the establishment of a Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), which will require primary legislation. We expect to consult this summer on our proposals for the establishment of RAIB before publishing the necessary primary legislation.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department is represented on the Railtrack Safety Executive. [60611]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department is not represented on the board of Railway Safety.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the development group meetings of key stakeholders of the rail industry safety body will be open to the public. [60608]
Mr. Jamieson: The Rail Regulator has published a consultation document on the establishment of the rail industry safety body (RISB). Copies of the consultation document and the majority of responses are available on the Rail Regulator's website, together with other working papers discussed at the development group. The development group is intended to be a series of working
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meetings to develop the detailed proposals for establishing RISB. It is not therefore open to the public. The Rail Regulator has however held two conferences open to a wide audience including passenger representatives, freight users, and trade unions. A transcript of the last industry conference on 9 May 2002 will be made available shortly on the Rail Regulator's website.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives and management systems the rail industry use to ensure employee involvement in safety issues. [60609]
Mr. Jamieson: Health and safety law places a duty on all employers to consult employees and their representatives in good time about specified aspects of their health and safety at work.
In addition, the Railway Safety Case Regulations 2000 places an explicit duty on railway employers to establish adequate arrangements for the passing and receiving of information relevant to health and safety to and from employees and others affected by their operations.
The railway industry also has a Confidential Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS). CIRAS offers an independent and confidential way for staff to report safety concerns without fear of disciplinary procedures. CIRAS is not intended to replace the normal reporting channels already operated by railway companies. Rather it is intended to work alongside them.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) timescale, (b) terms of reference and (c) costs are of the consultation exercise on the establishment of an independent rail accident investigation body; and if he will make a statement. [60595]
Mr. Jamieson: Lord Cullen's part 2 Ladbroke Grove report made a number of recommendations about an independent rail accident investigation branch (RAIB). We expect to consult this summer on proposals for the establishment of RAIB which are drawn from these recommendations. The consultation exercise will run for 12 weeks from the date of publication, as set out in the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation. Responses to the consultation will be carefully analysed following this period, and in advance of primary legislation. The costs of consultations exercises are included in the Department's running costs.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children were injured on railway lines in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [60393]
Mr. Jamieson: Information held by the British Transport police on fatal and major injuries to juveniles (under 16 years) in relation to trespass offences is contained in the following table:
| Year | Fatal | Major injuries |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 6 | 10 |
| 1998–99 | 5 | 9 |
| 1999–2000 | 5 | 13 |
| 2000–01 | 8 | 16 |
| 2001–02 | 3 | 7 |
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