HC Deb 23 May 1988 vol 134 cc58-9W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in theOfficial Report such information as he has on the fires which have taken place on London Underground over the last five years which (a) were not serious and (b) did not require evacuation of passengers; and if he will give details of all other fires.

Mr. David Mitchell

London Underground Ltd. is riot required to report every fire to the Department. The statutory reporting order requires fires, which interrupt the operation of the railway for more than 30 minutes, to be reported.

stability test specified in his Department's report to the International Maritime Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in theOfficial Report the study on international safety standards on roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferries carried out at the request of the International Maritime Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Mitchell

I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 19 May 1988, at columns 524–25.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has made any changes to the inspection and survey of passenger ferries as a result of the P and O dispute;

(2) if he has made any changes in the process certifying seamen as competent with respect to safety procedures on passenger ferries during the P and O dispute.

Mr. David Mitchell

The answer to both questions is no.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the ability of current roll-on/roll-off ferry design to meet the passenger ship safety regulations with respect to evacuation of passengers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Mitchell

None, but one organisation has questioned the possibility that passengers may not be safely evacuated in a very short time. We have commissioned a research programme to look into additional escape arrangements from roll-on/roll-off passenger ships.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the statement of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects on the safety and vulnerability on roll-on/roll-off ships of 21 March.

Mr. David Mitchell

My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for Aviation and Shipping met representatives of the institution, including their president, on 21 March to discuss their proposals to improve the safety of ro/ro ships. There was a great deal of common ground and indeed the research programme into possible fundamental design improvements that will be undertaken by my Department includes an investigation of basic design changes as suggested by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to implement the safety standards requested by the International Maritime Organisation on cross-Channel roll-on/roll-off ferries.

Mr. David Mitchell

Regulations are already in force that implement the improved safety standards for ro/ro passenger ships that were recently adopted by the International Maritime Organisation and which will come into effect internationally from 1989.