§ 2.38 p.m.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT, FUEL AND POWER (LORD LEATHERS)My Lords, I think your Lordships would wish me to make a statement to you on the railway disaster that occurred last Wednesday at Harrow and Wealdstone station.
At about 8.20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8, the 7.31 a.m. passenger train from Tring to Euston was just starting away from the up fast platform at Harrow and Wealdstone station when it was struck at the rear by the 8.15 p.m. express passenger train front Perth to Euston, which was travelling at high speed on the same line. The adjacent down fast line was fouled by the wreck-age, and a few seconds later the 8 a.m. down express from Euston to Liverpool, which was hauled by two engines and was also travelling at speed, collided with it. The destruction of rolling stock resulting from this double collision was altogether exceptional, and it was inevitable that the casualty list was very great. I regret to say that 110 persons lost their lives, including the driver and fireman of the Perth express. In addition, 159 persons were injured, of whom 75 are still detained in hospital. I am glad to say that the great majority of them are making good progress towards recovery.
A formal inquiry will be opened by the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways at Euston to-morrow; and your Lordships will appreciate that I cannot make 618 any further statement at present. The Railway Executive have announced that they will accept full legal liability for compensation, and all such claims will receive full and early attention.
Your Lordships will, I am sure, wish to be associated with an expression of very deep sympathy with the relatives and friends of the many who lost their lives in this disaster and with those who were injured. At the same time I should like to pay tribute to everyone who participated with such unselfishness in the prolonged and distressing work of rescue, including the detachment of the United States Air Force, who came so promptly to help us in our trouble.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH: My Lords, we are indeed grateful to the Secretary of State for taking this, the earliest possible opportunity, of making to your Lordships the statement that he has. On behalf of noble Lords on this side I should like to associate myself with the expressions of sympathy and condolence so well expressed by the Secretary of State, and also with his grateful thanks to all those who, without distinction of class, creed or country, answered the call of humanity so swiftly and admirably. Perhaps I may be allowed to add a word of thanks to the railwaymen for so quickly and efficiently obliterating any outward and obvious sign of such a tragic happening.
It would serve no purpose other than ill for any comment to be made until the Chief Inspecting Officer has made his report to the Minister, and I do not intend to offer any comment. But I should like, if I may, to ask the Secretary of State whether he will give your Lordships an assurance that the report of the Chief Inspecting Officer will be made public and placed before Parliament at the earliest possible moment.
§ LORD LEATHERSMy Lords, the inquiry to which I have referred is to be held in public. There will be no delay in the delivery of the report to your Lordships. I assure your Lordships that immediately after all the hearings have been held the report will be presented.