§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his safety and regulatory powers under railways legislation.
§ Mr. Roger FreemanThe responsibility for running a safe and efficient railway is placed by statute on British Rail. The Secretary of State has safety powers under the Regulation of Railways Act 1871, the Railway Employment (Prevention of Accidents) Act 1900, the Road and Rail Traffic Act 1933 and level crossing enactments. The powers relate to the approval and inspection of new works, the making of safety rules, and to the investigation of accidents. More detailed information is contained in appendix 11 of the 1990 annual report on the safety record of railways, copies of which are in the Library. Some of these powers are amended by the Transport and Works Act 1992.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the service provided by British Rail on the Fenchurch Street, Tilbury, Southend line meets the specified quality targets set by his predecessor in December 1989.
§ Mr. Roger FreemanBetween January and April of this year, the London, Tilbury and Southend line achieved, on average, the target set in 1989 for peak punctuality. This is most encouraging and reflects the efforts of British Rail staff on the line. Reliability remains a problems and was 507W below target over the same period. BR has told me that the current £50 million resignalling programme is the key to improving reliability.