§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the letter from Mr. Rimington CB of the Health and Safety Executive to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 25 January, what visits have taken place since 1989 to the Forth rail bridge by the Health and Safety Executive; what inspection the Health998W and Safety Executive has undertaken of the improvements suggested in 1989; if he will place in the Library the Health and Safety Executive's assessment of the use of water-based paint on the Forth rail bridge; and what evidence the Health and Safety Executive can adduce for its belief that Railtrack is fully committed to the well-being and preservation of the bridge and its attitude to safety. [16201]
§ Mr. OppenheimHealth and Safety Executive inspectors made a number of visits to the bridge between 1989 and February 1995 to assess the precautions taken to protect workers and to confirm the safety of trains crossing the bridge. The Director General of HSE, Mr. Rimington CB, has asked Her Majesty's railway inspectorate to undertake a full assessment of the structural integrity of the bridge from the point of view of its continued safety and integrity. To the extent that the use of water-based paint has a bearing on these issues,it will be taken into account. HSE's assessment will be published.