§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many British Rail escalators, to which the public have access, have been examined by the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years; and what plans they have to examine the remainder.
§ Mr. ForthThe examination of escalators is primarily the responsibility of each railway undertaking. Her Majesty's inspecting officers of the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate check the general condition of escalators in the course of routine inspections of stations, and if they find a fault that might be considered338W hazardous to public safety, it would he brought to the notice of the operator. The major stations where most British Rail escalators are situated arc inspected at least once every two years. Her Majesty's railway inspectorate does not keep records of individual escalators.