§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made in relation to the Montreal Convention to ensure UK passengers will be able to claim compensation for psychiatric injury caused by air accidents; and if he will make a statement. [128317]
§ Mr. HillDamages for mental injury caused by air accidents are already recoverable in the UK when associated with physical injury. In preparation for the Diplomatic Conference held in Montreal in May 1999, at which the Convention was signed, the UK supported a proposal by Sweden for a separate head of claim for mental injury. Prior to the Conference, however, that proposal was withdrawn from the draft text of the Convention. Our position was that a separate claim for mental injury could be advocated only if there was sufficient support to gain global agreement. There was not
Property and violent crime on whole railway network 1994–99 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Property crime Criminal damage 9,892 10,502 9,127 7,261 6,543 Theft passenger property/goods 20,766 21,206 18,625 19,381 19,099 Vehicle crime 19,817 20,811 18,011 15,220 14,337 Theft railway property/burglary 8,472 7,986 7,138 6,098 6,619 Total 49,055 50,003 43,774 40,699 40,055 Violent crime Notifiable violent offences 1,735 1,571 1,547 1,639 1,751 Notifiable sexual offences 578 603 675 756 680 Robberies 1,846 2,431 2,273 1,836 1,874 Total 4,159 4,605 4,495 4,231 4,305
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what proportion of railway stations have become accredited as secure stations; what standards have to be met to achieve the accreditation; what measures he is taking to ensure more stations are so accredited; and if he will make a statement. [128302]
§ Mr. HillThere are currently 61 stations accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme (out of approximately 2,800 stations in Great Britain). The Secure Stations Scheme, which was launched in April 1998, is designed88W sufficient support so, in the interest of securing the best deal for the UK, it was decided to support the text of the Convention without a separate reference to mental injury. The Conference "travaux préparatoires", nevertheless, indicate that damages for mental injury can be recovered in certain states and that jurisprudence in this area is developing.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards ratification of the Montreal Convention. [128316]
§ Mr. HillPrimary legislation in the form of a new Carriage by Air Act is required before the UK can ratify the Montreal Convention. We aim to introduce that legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows. The Convention requires ratification by 30 states before it can come into force. To date, three states have deposited instruments of ratification.