§ 37. Mr. David Rentonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that on Saturday, 14th July, 1951, a serious fire took place on a north-bound express train near Huntingdon, and that four coaches were burnt out and 21 people injured; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Barnesyes, Sir, and I should like to express my sympathy with those who were injured and their relations. An inspecting officer of the railways visited the site on the following day to examine the burnt-out coaches, and he opened his formal inquiry on Friday, 20th July. The hon. Member will appreciate that it would not be right for me to make any further statement until his investigations are complete and his report has been published.
§ Mr. Rentonwhen will that be?
§ Mr. Barnesi could not say, but the railway inspectorate will expedite their inquiries as much as possible.
§ Mr. Loganis my right hon. Friend aware that the London train from Liverpool, on the previous Monday, also caught fire, and that in the opinion of the guard of the train the canvas extensions between carriages need better inspection? It was that that caught fire.
§ Major Legge-Bourkewhen the Minister has the result of the inquiry, will he reconsider the question of the construction of railway carriages of wood—a practice which has been abandoned in a great many countries?
§ Mr. BarnesThese matters are always discussed between my Department's inspectorate and the railway management. Generally, the latter are disposed to go a very long way to meet the recommendations of the inspectorate.