§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the regulations controlling safety standards for carriage of dangerous commodities on railways.
§ Mr. MooreDangerous goods are accepted by British Rail under the conditions contained in its list of dangerous goods and conditions of acceptance. Special instructions to staff on the handling and conveyance of all dangerous goods are contained in its "Working Manual for Rail Staff". The Railways Act 1921 (section 50) requires the owner or consignor of dangerous goods to comply with the rules laid down by the railway. The Railway Clauses Act 1845 (section 105) requires the consignor to give the railway a written indication of goods that are dangerous. Specific regulations for the conveyance of military explosives by rail are contained in SI No. 889 of 1977. The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 have a general appliation to the transport of radioactive substances; all materials in this category are carried in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency safety standards. For international traffic, the regulations concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail are also relevant.