HC Deb 05 December 1990 vol 182 cc119-20W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been agreed concerning rail transportation of hazardous chemicals through the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

No arrangements have yet been agreed. It is for Eurotunnel to put forward proposals for the movement of dangerous goods. The proposals will be considered by the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission which is advised on safety matters by the independent binational safety authority.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will set out the regulatory framework that exists to cover the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals;

(2) what regulatory framework exists to cover the possible health and safety implications of the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if he will review the regulations and their enforcement controlling the containment of chemicals in transit in the light of the Isle of Grain derailment on 28 November; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

Dangerous substances are carried by rail in accordance with the British Railways Board's "List of Dangerous Goods and Conditions of Acceptance by Rail on Freight Services and Parcels Service" (BR 22426). These are based on the United Nations' "Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods".

Responsibility for the safety of staff and the public rests primarily with the railway operator. Her Majesty's railway inspectorate is responsible for enforcement of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 on the railways. The inspectorate transferred to the Health and Safety Executive on 1 December.

I am considering what further action is needed to ensure that dangerous substances safety rules on our railways and those applying internationally are regularly updated and appropriately aligned.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken concerning(a) the derailment of a train carrying chemicals at Stratford, east London, on 21 November, identifying the chemicals being transported and (b) the derailment of a train near the Isle of Grain refinery on 28 November; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

An inspecting officer of the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate (RI) visited the scene of the accident on the Isle of Grain on the morning of 28 November. British Rail will be conducting its own inquiries into both the Stratford and Isle of Grain accidents and will send a copy of its findings in due course to RI, which will then decide whether any further action is necessary. I understand from BR that the train at Stratford included wagons carrying sodium hydroxide solids and diphenyl methane—4, 4—diifocyanate, but that these particular wagons were not derailed.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the inventory his Department maintains on those chemicals currently transported by rail in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

The Department does not have such an inventory, but I understand that British Rail has a list of dangerous substances which can be transported by rail.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of railway accidents involving chemicals being transported in each of the years 1980 to 1990 and for each of the categories(a) corrosive, (b) poisonous, (c) volatile and (d) explosive.

Mr. Freeman

I understand that the railway inspectorate does not have information in the form requested.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role his Department takes in planning for, and responding to, possible accidents involving the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

This is a matter for British Rail, the emergency services and local authorities.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what hazard assessment and emergency planning arrangements exist for accidents involving the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals; what body is responsible for this work; and if possible off-site consequences of an accident are taken into account in the assessment and planning arrangements.

Mr. Freeman

British Rail, the emergency services and local authorities, which are responsible for the off-site consequences of an accident, liaise closely in assessing hazards and developing arrangements to deal with major railway accidents, including those involving hazardous chemicals. As part of these arrangements, joint exercises are held frequently.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedure exists to provide emergency services attending an accident involving the rail transportation of chemicals with information concerning the identity and possible hazard of these substances; and how early during an emergency response such information is available to the emergency services.

Mr. Freeman

Every railway wagon carrying a dangerous substance should be identified by a HAZCHEM label, and there are also arrangements for British Rail regional control offices to provide the emergency services with lists of wagons and contents. Further advice is available from the consignor or the Chemical Industries Association's CHEMSAFE arrangements. I understand that response times are usually very quick.