HC Deb 23 March 1989 vol 149 c705W
Mr. Michael Martin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will be meeting the chairman of British Rail to discuss all aspects of safety relating to the railway system.

Mr. Portillo

The chief inspecting officer of railways has meetings with BR's director of safety to review safety every six months. He reports to Ministers and the HSC annually on major safety issues and from time to time on particular concerns and individual accidents. I have discussed safety a number of times with Sir Robert Reid over the last 12 months and shall want to do so again when the inspector's reports on the accidents at Clapham, Purley and Bellgrove are available.