§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the closure of the Circle line at Liverpool Street station on Wednesday 2 May.
§ Mr. FreemanLondon Underground Ltd (LUL) tell me that Liverpool Street Underground Station was closed and evacuated on Wednesday 2 May between 09.45 and 10.20 whilst the London fire brigade attended following a report of smoke. The current was discharged to allow the firemen on to the track. The cause of the smoke was found to be burning paper, probably ignited by a train "arcing". The fire brigade extinguished the burning paper, the "all clear" was given and the station was reopened.
I understand that LUL is currently carrying out a programme of improved cleaning measures, in particular, to remove litter from the track. It is also looking of eliminating or minimising arcing of trains.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fires have been reported on London underground in each of the last 12 months; for how many the fire brigade was in attendance; and how many required evacuation of the premises.
§ Mr. FreemanLondon Underground Ltd. (LUL) tells me that the latest 12-month period for which details of fires are available is April 1989 to March 1990. The record consists of four-week periods rather than calendar months. The figures are as follows:8W
Period No. of Fires Reported 129.4.89 464 127.5.89 584 124.6.89 456 122.7.89 436 119.8.89 385 116.9.89 398 114.10.89 370 111.11.89 276 19.12.89 393 16.1.90 1259 13.2.90 303 13.3.90 339 131.3.90 424 1 Four weeks ending The London fire brigade was in attendance at all fires. LUL do not keep records of evacuations of stations as a result of fires, though in 540 cases the train service either did not stop at the station or was suspended, which suggests that the station was evacuated.
It was not necessary for LUL to report all fires to the Secretary of State. Those which had to be reported fell into the categories at Schedule 1, Sections 6(d), 6(e), 7(e) and 7(f) of the Railway (Notice of Accidents) Order 1986. This was set out in the answer to the hon. Member on 23 March 1990, Official Report, c.774–75.