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Cullen Report
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if the results of the centralised training and development team formed by Railtrack, as reported in the Cullen report, will be made publicly available; [60612]
(2) what the terms of reference are for the local management teams that monitor the implementation of contracts for the rail industry as reported in the Cullen report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. [60604]
Mr. Jamieson: These are operational matters for Railtrack.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the shortcomings are in the scope of contract documentation reported in the Cullen report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. [60603]
Mr. Jamieson: Lord Cullen discussed the use of contracts in Chapter 4 of his part 2 Ladbroke Grove report including the process for awarding and controlling contracts and contractors. He did not make any specific recommendations about contract documentation. A copy of the report is in the Library.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what maintenance delivery and other improvements are being followed up by Railtrack as reported in the Cullen report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry; [60602]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the reasons for non-completion of recommendations 4, 6, 9 and 72 of the Cullen report into the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry; and what timetable he has set for their completion; [60594]
(3) what steps are to be completed by Railtrack to comply with the recommendations of the Cullen report into the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry; and what (a) timescales and (b) costs are involved. [60598]
Mr. Jamieson: The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has published progress reports on how the recommendations of the Cullen reports have been implemented: Part 1 on 14 March 2002 and Part 2 on 29 April 2002. These reports describe the original and revised timetables for all the recommendations and have been placed in the House Library.
On 1 May 2002, the Secretary of State asked the HSC for a further progress report on the reasons for the delay in implementing recommendations associated with the management of contractors. A copy of the HSC's reply has been placed in the House Library.
The cost of implementing those Cullen recommendations for which they have responsibility is a matter for Railtrack.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the 10 strategic maintenance principles developed by Railtrack that involve Railtrack directly managing inspection, appraisal and key work decisions as reported in the Cullen report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. [60601]
Mr. Jamieson: I understand that Railtrack have drawn up the following 10 key principles relating to maintenance and contractor management:
1. To take responsibility for material asset, engineering decisions.
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2. To deliver clear asset engineering policies, standards, specifications and key work instructions.
3. To own asset information including asset condition data and monitoring.
4. To own examination of its network and, on a long-term basis, to aim to automate inspection as appropriate.
5. To own the work prioritisation decisions and the resulting work plans on planned and reactive maintenance.
6. To be accountable for developing the long-term view of people and the capability required and to work with the industry to ensure that people are developed as necessary.
7. To lead the industry research and development into plant, systems, process and materials.
8. To own all engineering access to the network and additionally to manage possessions based on assessed risk against a risk matrix, having fully consulted the passenger and freight train operating companies.
9. To be able to demonstrate cost effectiveness of maintenance and renewals, and to seek continual unit cost reductions to meet regulatory expectations of efficiency.
10. To continue to contract out maintenance and renewals in this control period but will consider the merits of bringing this work in-house for one or two "control areas".
Railtrack
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the circumstances in which Railtrack has imported rail track components that are cheaper but require higher maintenance than those of established British suppliers; and if he will make a statement; [58147]
- (2) in relation to Railtrack's decisions on which rail track components to purchase, what criteria are set by the (a) Rail Regulator and (b) HSE as to how Railtrack should trade off complexity of maintenance and capital outlay. [58146]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
None. These are procurement matters for the industry parties. However, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places specific duties on designers, manufacturers, suppliers and installers to ensure components are safe.
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many posts in Railtrack Scotland are unfilled; and what impact these vacancies are having on Scotland's rail services; [58097]
- (2) for what posts in the Scottish rail network Railtrack has recruited people from (a) Romania and (b) the Philippines; and how many have been recruited; [58098]
(3) what additional training is required for people recruited from Romania and the Philippines by Railtrack to work on the rail network. [58094]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
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Recruitment and training are matters for the industry parties. Railtrack employs contractors to carry out its maintenance and renewal work on the network in Scotland. Signalling resources have been an issue for the industry and the contractors have looked at various options including the small-scale recruitment of qualified engineering staff from abroad. Their training additionally includes familiarisation with the operational methods and standards of the UK network.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the results of the enhanced basic questionnaire for prospective Railtrack contractors will be made available to the public. [60599]
Mr. Jamieson: This is a commercial matter for Railtrack.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the deferred timescales of Railtrack for the revised selection process for prospective contractors. [60600]
Mr. Jamieson: I understand that Railtrack's maintenance contracts are for fixed terms and will be re-let upon expiry. The next tranche is due to be renewed with effect from 1 April 2003.
Railway Lines
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 22 May 2002, Official Report, column 349W, if he will (a) provide a breakdown of the table by (i) wild animals, (ii) cattle and (iii) domestic animals and (b) provide an explanation for the decline in 2001–02. [60031]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate only records incidents of trains running into either cows or horses where the animals were subsequently killed, injured or retrieved from railway lines. Details are contained in the following table.
| Year | Cows | Horses |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 67 | 15 |
| 1997–98 | 56 | 14 |
| 1998–99 | 53 | 13 |
| 1999–2000 | 71 | 17 |
| 2000–01 | 68 | 14 |
| 2001–02(13) | 46 | 5 |
(13) Provisional
Figures are also recorded for trains striking other animals if the strike causes damage to the train which necessitates immediate repair. However the type of animal is not recorded. All these figures are also available in HM Chief Inspector of Railways Annual Report on Railway Safety, copies of which are in both House Libraries.
It is not year clear whether the decline in 2001–02 has any statistical significance. However, factors may include the better provision of fencing and the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
Rail Investment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the allocation of the money
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under the 10-year transport plan for rail investment, broken down by region, including (a) total amount and (b) percentage allocated to each region. [60268]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Pete Wishart) on 28 January 2002, Official Report, columns 53–54W.
Railway Inspectorate
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) terms of reference, (b) timescales and (c) job description are for the successful candidate applying for the position of director in Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate. [60605]
Mr. Jamieson: The creation within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of the new post of Director of Railway Safety is a direct result of Lord Cullen's recommendations following the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. This will be a permanent appointment on standard civil service terms. The post was advertised in the national and specialist press, interviews have taken place, and the recruitment process, overseen by the Civil Service Commission, will be completed shortly. An announcement will be made by the HSE in due course.
The job specification for the post includes requirements to lead and direct the Railway Inspectorate in ensuring that all relevant duty holders carry out their health and safety responsibilities to employees, passengers and others; contribute to the health and safety strategy for railways; ensure that all targets to improve health and safety on the railways are fully met; and to maintain strong links with stakeholders in driving forward the health and safety strategy and improving public confidence.
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