§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the accident on the Central line underground on Tuesday 4 March as a consequence of preparation work for the new Hackney-M11 link road; and what arrangements are in hand to ensure that such accidents do not occur during the road construction phase.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyBoreholes were being sunk to obtain soils information needed for the redesign of the proposed Green Man interchange announced last October. A drilling rod penetrated the lining of an Underground tunnel damaging two trains and causing slight injuries to the driver of the first. This most unfortunate incident resulted from an error in setting out the boreholes. The question of liability is being discussed with our consulting engineers and the contractor. Drilling will not restart adjacent to the tunnels until London Regional Transport is satisfied that it will be safe. Similar arrangements would also apply to any works during the road construction phase.