§ Mr. SnapeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the duties of the Railways Inspectorate.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe principal duties of the Railway Inspectorate are to assist and advise the Secretary of State in the exercise of his jurisdiction under the railway regulatory Acts. This includes the inspection and approval of new and altered railway works, including level crossings, safety rules and regulations, and the reporting and investigation of accidents. In addition, the inspectorate applies the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 to the operational parts of the railways in Great Britain under an agency agreement between the Department and the Health and Safety Commission, and inspects railway works and investigates accidents in Northern Ireland, Hong Kong and Singapore under separate agency agreements. Full details of the Secretary of State's jurisdiction under the railway Acts, and details of the agency agreement with the HSC, are given in appendix 11 of the Department's report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain during 1986, a copy of which is in the Library.