§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total number of fatal and non-fatal casualties for all railway accidents involving only railway employees in each year since 1959.
§ Mr. PortilloThis information is not available in the form requested. Details of the total number of railway employees killed or injured in accidents each year are given in the chief inspecting officer of railways' annual report, copies of which have been placed in the House of Commons Library. It is estimated from available data that the number of casualties sustained in accidents involving only railway employees is not significantly less than the overall total of staff casualties in all accidents.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the date and place and the number of fatal and non-fatal casualties for all railway accidents involving non-railway employees in each year since 1959.
§ Mr. PortilloI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comparative information he has as to the number of accidents per million passenger train miles operated in the United Kingdom, other European Community countries, the United States of America and Japan; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloIn 1987, the significant accident rate per million train miles in the United Kingdom was 0.71. Directly comparable data for other countries is not readily available but inquiries are being made with the appropriate authorities. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have further details.