§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions are given to drivers on underground trains in the event of a fire occuring in the middle of the train with particular regard to helping passengers(a) between the driver and the fire and (b) between the fire and the end of the train; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloEvery effort is made to design underground rolling stock so that the risk of fire breaking out is minimized—or, if fire does occur, that it will not disable the train. In the event of a fire the driver's first responsibility is to get the train to the nearest station and inform the line controller by radio. No passenger has been injured by a fire on a train within the period 1984 to date.566W I understand from London Underground Ltd. that a programme to remove inflammable material from rolling stock has begun.