§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many engineering insurance company defect reports were received by the Health and Safety Executive for London Underground lifts and escalators in 1986 and in 1987; and how many were acted on by the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. David MitchellNone. The Offices, Shops arid Railway Premises (Hoists and Lifts) Regulations 1968 require that lifts shall be examined every six months by a "competent person". The use of an engineering insurance company is not mandatory and London Underground Ltd. uses suitably qualified members of its own staff as competent persons. If the examiner makes the continued use of a lift conditional upon specified defects being remedied, a copy of the report must be sent to the enforcing authority. During 1986 and 1987, one such defect report was forwarded to the railway inspectorate as agents of the Health and Safety Executive. There are no corresponding statutory provisions for escalators.