Examination of Witnesses (Questions 160-164)
MR TIM
O'TOOLE
8 DECEMBER 2004
Q160 Chairman: That is very good. Since
you are very aware of the need for consultation and understanding
and certainly training in a thing like that why is it that you
have not had all your safety representatives called together in
the last year if we are to believe what the union say?
Mr O'Toole: Certainly they did
not allege that I have not. The four companies did not call them
in.
Q161 Chairman: No, no. Believe me, Mr
O'Toole, when I am having a go at you you will know.
Mr O'Toole: I was a little bit
confused by that. I wondered if terminology was the issue. I have
been in a room with some of the gentlemen who were around this
panel with the company-wide safety forum, and such a group does
exist. Where I am going to fail you though is that I do not know
how many times it has been convened since PPP started but when
it was convened I know for certain was after the Hammersmith and
Camden Town derailments because it was that group that dealt with
the trade unions' claims regarding the inspections. In fact, the
whole incident was, I think, if anything a model of how trade
unions and management should get together because I think they
did a lot to restore the credibility in what we were doing.
Q162 Chairman: Will the London Underground
PPP be able to deliver the improvements that we need in line with
the projected increase in London's population over the next 10
and then 20 years?
Mr O'Toole: It will stay just
about even with the demand that is forecast for us but it will
not do anything to improve the situation, which is why we have
to have Crossrail.
Q163 Chairman: Does that satisfy you
or would you rather plan for something different?
Mr O'Toole: Obviously, I would
like more, but the only relief valve I have right now on the horizon
is Crossrail.
Q164 Chairman: And?
Mr O'Toole: And I hope that a
hybrid bill is passed and it gets funded.
Chairman: You have been very helpful,
Mr O'Toole. Thank you very much indeed. We are very grateful.
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