ACCIDENT, NORTH CIRCULAR ROAD (Hansard, 22 June 1964)

§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith)
This tragic accident occurred at 8.30 on Saturday morning near the intersection of Hendon Way (A.41) and the North Circular Road at the site of the Brent Cross fly-over scheme. A Coles mobile crane belonging to the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company Limited, the main contractors to the scheme, was standing between the North Circular Road and the River Brent about 200 ft. southwest of the intersection. It was being used to erect a Scotch derrick for the construction of the 40 ft. high concrete fly-over. The base of the tripod of the derrick, which was about 20 ft. high, had been erected and the crane was being used to assemble the king post of the derrick which stands on top of the tripod. This king post was 50 ft. long and weighed about 7½ tons.
35 Because of the length of the king post and the height to which it had to be lifted, an extension had been fitted to the crane jib. This would be normal in such circumstances. As the crane lifted the king post vertically, the jib of the crane began to buckle. As the jib buckled, the king post fell towards the North Circular Road, dragging the jib down with it and crushing the coach, which was travelling slowly beneath it. The position of the crane was determined by the narrow space between the North Circular Road and the River Brent.
One of H.M. inspectors of factories made an immediate investigation of the circumstances of the accident on Saturday and Sunday. He has made a preliminary report to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, but a further more detailed investigation will be required. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has asked for a full report from his consulting engineers for the scheme, Sir Bruce White, Wolfe, Barry and Partners. I understand that an inquest is to be held tomorrow and in all the circumstances it would clearly be wrong for me to say more at this stage. But I am sure that the House will wish to join with me in expressing our deepest sympathy with the relatives of those who have died.

§ Sir H. Lucas-Tooth
On behalf of my constituents, I would like to join in the sympathy which has been expressed by my hon. Friend to those who were involved in this horrible accident which occurred in their midst.
In view of the obvious possibility of legal proceedings arising out of what has occurred, I do not wish to say anything this afternoon which might prejudice matters, but perhaps I might ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether he is aware that the circumstances of the accident give rise to grave anxiety about the safety precautions which were taken?
Will my hon Friend ensure that a very full and comprehensive inquiry is undertaken; and will the inquiry to which he referred be such that it may be made public when it reaches the Minister's hands?

§ Mr. Galbraith
I understand what my hon. Friend has said. Both my right 36 hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Transport are anxious to find out the facts and what caused this accident. They will do everything they can to do that as quickly as possible.

§ Mr. Hunter
I, too, express my deep sorrow at this tragic accident. The motor coach which was involved had come from Feltham and was taking people for a day's holiday at Southend. A number of those who were killed and injured are my constituents and I wish to extend my sympathy to their relatives and to the company. I earnestly request the Minister to investigate the accident and to hold a full public inquiry.

§ Mr. Galbraith
I understand exactly the sentiments that the hon. Member has expressed. I feel the same about this as he does. As I said earlier, we are trying to find out what the facts are and to establish what was the cause of this terrible accident.

§ Sir B. Craddock
I am sorry to say that some of my constituents were also involved in this grievous accident. I, too, express my sympathy to the relatives of those involved and welcome the fact that a further and full inquiry is to be undertaken into this unhappy business.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We must get on.

§ Mrs. Castle
May we ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the results of the inquiry will be published?

§ Mr. Speaker
That question was left unanswered.

§ Mrs. Castle
Why?

§ Mr. Speaker
I do not know if the Minister would like to answer that question.

§ Mrs. Castle
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the results of the investigation will be made public, in view of the seriousness of this matter?

§ Mr. Galbraith
We want to take one step at a time. We are trying to find out, first, what happened by an investigation into the facts. An investigation is being carried out by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, by his Factory Inspectorate, and there is to be 37 a report which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has called for from the contractors.
In the light of whatever comes out of those two reports my two right hon. Friends will consider whether or not a public inquiry would be appropriate. I think that we must wait—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—until we have the report from the Factory Inspectorate, along with the report from the consulting engineers, before my two right hon. Friends can determine what is the next proper step to take.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We cannot debate this matter now.