§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up a public inquiry into the gas surge in Royston on 8 March; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonInspectors from the Health and Safety Executive are currently investigating the gas incident on 8 March in Royston. I do not propose to set up a public inquiry since this would be unlikely to identify any causes or contributory factors which will not be identified by the HSE investigation. The results of HSE's investigation will be published.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the actions he has taken since the gas surge in Royston on 8 March in order to prevent a recurrence of this event.
Mr. JacksonInspectors from the Health and Safety Executive are carrying out a full investigation into the gas222W incident at Royston on 8 March. The HSE will decide what action, if any, is appropriate when the investigation is completed.
I understand that British Gas has replaced approximately 4,000 m of pipeline as a result of the incident.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the dates of the contacts he has had, whether by telephone, letter or meetings, on the lessons of the gas surge in Royston on 8 March with(a) Royston town council and (b) British Gas.
Mr. JacksonThe Health and Safety Executive has had contact on the following dates with Royston town council and British Gas about the gas incident in Royston on 8 March:
(a) Contact with Royston Town Council (b) Contact with British Gas 15 March 11 March 21 March 12 March 25 March 27 March 28 March 11 April 10 April 1991 12 April 16 April 1991
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will visit Royston as part of his assessment of the implications of the gas surge on 8 March.
Mr. JacksonThe Health and Safety Executive is keeping me informed of progress with its investigation into the gas incident in Royston on 8 March. I have no plans to visit Royston.