§ 17. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the disquiet about the lack of proper protection for children from the Longbenton Estate, Newcastle, following the electrocution of a young child on 31st May because one side of an electrified line is fenced-off by a wooden railing which provides no obstruction for a child; and if he will require a wire netting fence to be put up similar to that on the opposite side of the line, a proper fence to be erected on both sides of the bridge at this spot, and the wire netting to be fastened properly at the bottom and inspected every six months.
§ Mr. HayWe are satisfied that the British Transport Commission has done what can reasonably be expected to protect this line and inspects the fencing regularly. But I am disturbed that children continue to trespass on electrified lines, and I should like to take this opportunity of asking parents and schoolteachers to warn children of the danger.
§ Mr. McKayIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Question was put down to draw 'his attention to the existing situation? Has he not decided to do something extra, over and above what has been done in the past, to prevent these accidents to children?
§ Mr. HayThis is always a very difficult subject. The Commission maintains what are called unclimbable fences at appropriate places alongside electrified lines in the vicinity of houses, schools and so on, but elsewhere, and particularly in open country, it is the Commission's policy to provide fencing of good quality which is appropriate to the use of the adjoining land. To ask the Commission to provide unclimbable fences throughout the whole length of its growing number of electrified lines would be an extremely expensive proposition.
§ Mr. McKayIf the Commission can erect a steel wire fence on one side of the line, it would not be much out of the way for it to do the same thing on the other side because children can get on to the line from that side as well. Cannot that be done?
§ Mr. HayIt is an unfortunate fact that very little can be done to provide a fence that cannot be climbed or penetrated by the most determined child.