§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if the freight train involved in the crash at Wembley Central station was stationary at the time of impact;
(2) if at the conclusion of his present inquiries into the train disaster on 11 October at Wembley Central station, he will hold a public inquiry;
(3) if the report of the train accident at Harrow and Wealdstone on 8 October 1952, when 112 people were killed, will be made available to the committee of inquiry into the Wembley Central station accident on 11 October;
(4) if he will make a statement on the train crash which occurred on 11 October at Wembley Central station;
759W(5) if he will ensure that the London Regional Passenger Committee now considering objections to the proposed closure of Marylebone station and the withdrawal of services serving Wembley receive copies of the evidence and conclusions reached in his inquiry into the Wembley train disaster of 11 October.
§ Mr. David MitchellMy right hon. Friend has ordered a formal inquiry, under the Regulation of Railways Act 1871, into the accident. It will be conducted by the Department's chief inspecting officer of railways who will open the inquiry, and hear evidence in public, on Friday 9 November in London. The inquiry will address the question of whether the freight train was moving or not at the moment of impact together with all other relevant matters. The published report on the 1952 accident at Harrow and Wealdstone is well known to the chief inspecting officer. A full report on the Wembley accident will be published as soon as possible after the inspector has completed his inquiries. Copies will then, of course, be available to the London Regional Passenger Committee.