Examination of Witnesses (Questions 3480
- 3499)
3480. MR MOULD: We are going to come
to that and I take that point, but it is precisely the sort of
thing that the Liaison Panel is there to do, which is to be informed
and disseminate information, so that seems to be a good idea.
You will have noticed that number 188 on this list this extract
from the Register, we have undertaken to the London Borough of
Tower Hamlets to produce a guide for affected property owners,
setting out in clear language how the settlement policy is applied,
distribute copies of the guide to all property where settlement
may occur provide settlement reports and propose mitigation measures
automatically for building owners, contact owners of buildings
at an appropriate time when tunnelling work has been completed
to remind them of their right to a further survey. I do not know
how far we have got in producing that guide, I will find out and
I will report back to the Committee in relation to that.
3481. CHAIRMAN: And to the Liaison Panel.
3482. MR MOULD: Indeed, but that guide
is obviously another means whereby we can provide directly information
of the kind that, my Lord, Lord Brooke has mentioned to us. I
should say one other point, although this information paper is
dated 20 February 2008, it is the fifth version of a document
which has been in existence with the Settlement Deed attached
to it for a number of years, since I think late 2005, so this
is something which has been available and remains available for
people to look at.
3483. CHAIRMAN: Mr Wheeler, before we
go on with your questions, do you think you have got all the necessary
papers or do you think you will be able to get access to them?
3484. MR WHEELER: Regarding Settlement
Deeds?
3485. CHAIRMAN: Yes, the things we have
been talking about and from your points this morning.
3486. MR WHEELER: Obviously we would
like to come back to you on that. I think we do.
3487. CHAIRMAN: We would be very happy
if you did come back if you find there is any gap.
3488. MR WHEELER: I will review the transcript
of these proceedings today with others and we will be able to
get back to you.
3489. LORD YOUNG OF NORWOOD GREEN: I
want to make sure that we have got a list of all the assurances
and all the undertakings and that it is comprehensive. Are there
any more buried in the information papers that have not been incorporated
into this and the addendum?
3490. MR MOULD: The honest answer is,
my Lord, I do not know. I do not believe that there are, but rather
than try and speculate on something that I have not taken direct
instructions on for this purpose, would it be sensible if I asked
that question and report it back to you tomorrow morning and we
can clarify the point in that way.
3491. LORD YOUNG OF NORWOOD GREEN: I
did not want it just for our benefit but for the Petitioners'
benefit. I was getting concerned that there might be one or two,
through no fault necessarily of anybody, they have slipped through
the net, so I think that is very welcome.
3492. MR MOULD: I will put that on the
list of things to report back on tomorrow.
3493. CHAIRMAN: Have we got to the point
where Mr Wheeler can ask Mr Berryman his questions?
3494. MR WHEELER: Thank you, my Lord.
Mr Berryman, Mr Mould asked early on in your piece about the Commons'
responses from June 2006 and I wonder do we have the text for
that? I think it was paragraphs 103, 104, 105, something like
that.
3495. MR MOULD: Is this the Special Report?
3496. MR WHEELER: Yes, the report of
the Commons Select Committee June 2006. The question I have is
that, as the presentation was made today, the impression was given
that the Committee were happy with the surveys that have been
done to date?
3497. CHAIRMAN: I do not think this Committee
said anything about it, it is the Commons' Committee.
3498. MR WHEELER: Yes, this is the Commons'
Committee. What I want to ask Mr Berryman is, what did the Promoter
or himself understand? If they were so happy, why did they ask
the Promoter to come back to the Committee in the autumn of 2007
and demonstrate clearly than an individual assessment has been
made of each listed historic building in the area and the appropriate
mitigation put in place? Why would they ask them to do that if
they were happy with the surveys and, as we have subsequently
heard today, nothing has happened anyway? What was supposed to
happen by autumn 2007?
(Mr Berryman) Can I check the date of that Special Report?
3499. MR MOULD: October 2007.
(Mr Berryman) I think this report was written after that
report had been made by us back to the Committee. When the Committee
rose in July they told us to go back to them in the autumn and
demonstrate as is described there and they then say in the next
paragraph of 104: "We are happy to report that the Promoter
has done a considerable amount of work to ensure settlement impact
... ", and so on. I will not read it all out, but I think
this was their report which was made after the action which they
asked for in June had been taken. We asked the Promoters to come
back to the Committee in autumn 2007. The report you were just
referring to was produced in October 2007 after we had reported
back. They go on to say in paragraph 104: "We are happy to
report that the Promoter has done a considerable amount of work
to ensure that the settlement impact of the works on all buildings,
including listed and historic buildings, have been adequately
assessed and appropriate mitigation put in place".[40]
40 House of Commons Select Committee on the Crossrail
Bill, First Special Report of Session 2006-07, Crossrail Bill,
HC 235-I, para 104 (SCN-20080311-008) Back
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