26. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Transport how many accidents were suffered by British Railways employees during the year 1966; how many of these were fatal; and what were the comparable figures for 1961 and 1956, respectively.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe final figures for casualties to British Railways employees in all classes of accident during 1966 are not yet available. The provisional figures are 7,845 injured, including 73 fatally. The comparable figures for 1961 were 14,233 and 167; for 1956, 15,690 and 171.
Mr. TaylorWould the hon. Gentle-agree that in the Annual Reports of British Railways concern has been expressed about accidents? Are these figures keeping pace with the reduction in railway employees; in other words, is the position improving?
§ Mr. MorrisI have not got any apportionment of the figures with me. It would appear from the preliminary figures which have been obtained for last year that they are better, but one cannot really establish the position until full figures are available, and I should not like to anticipate them.