§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish a working party of his Department to investigate the problem of violence on 221W public transport, with special regard to the provision of women-only rail and tube compartments and special facilities such as station waiting rooms.
§ Mr. David HowellNo. The working conference on violence on public transport held last year by my predecessor and the Home Secretary identified a number of useful measures to protect both passengers and staff. Many have now been implemented while others are being developed. British Rail, for example, is providing large glass panels in general waiting rooms to improve surveillance, and the move to open saloons on trains in place of separate compartments has similar benefits. The Government will continue to work closely with transport undertakings to tackle the problem of violence.
§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish any statistics he has which would show the number of women attacked on British Railways trains and stations, on the London Underground and on other forms of public transport throughout England and Wales.
§ Mr. David HowellStatistics in this form are not readily available.