§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list(a) the number of reports he has received from the railways inspectorate, (b) the number recommending prosecutions, and (b) the number of prosecutions taken up and the outcome for each of the past 10 years;
(2) if he will list (a) the number of deaths on British Rail premises each year in the last 10 years and (b) the number of prosecutions for such deaths and the outcome of the prosecutions.
§ Mr. PortilloThe number of deaths on British Rail premises during the period 1979–88 is in table A. Table B shows the number of prosecutions arising from incidents involving fatalities and the outcome. The decision to go ahead with prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is a matter solely for the chief inspecting officer of railways. He does not consult my right hon. Friend before proceeding. Details of all prosecutions, and their outcome, during the period 1980–1988 were set out in my answer of 4 May 1989, at column118 to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) There were no prosecutions in 1979.
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Table A Fatal Accidents on BR Premises 1979–1988 Year Passengers Staff Other Persons Total 1979 52 43 12 107 1980 26 32 11 69 1981 39 27 10 76
Year Passengers Staff Other Persons Total 1982 20 27 10 57 1983 29 28 12 69 1984 39 25 12 76 1985 33 25 16 74 1986 32 16 24 72
Table B Prosecutions involving fatalities 1979–1988 Prosecution in respect of incident at Number of fatalities involved Date of first proceedings Outcome Denham Station 3 25 April 1983 Not Guilty. Barking Station 1 3 December 1984 Guilty, fined £1,000 plus £500 costs (BRB appealed successfully and costs awarded against HSE). Birmingham International 1 10 September 1984 Absolute discharge. Coquet Viaduct 2 23 September 1985 Guilty, fined £1,250 plus £1,100 costs. Glasgow Central Station 1 2 July 1985 Company, which was in liquidation, received an admonition. Liverpool Street Station 1 13 January 1987 Guilty, fined £5,000 plus £900 costs.