§ Mr. Mark RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the Railway group safety plan for 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [16240]
§ Mr. WattsThe Railtrack board has now submitted a 1996–97 safety plan for Britain's national railway network. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The plan sets out strategic safety objectives for 1996–97, reports safety performance by British Rail and Railtrack in 1995–96, and gives details of the arrangements for managing safety on the railway.
All current train operators have had their railway safety cases accepted, a process which relies on an adequate demonstration of commitment and competence by the companies. New operators will need to satisfy the same rigorous scrutiny. The plan is an important companion to these safety cases. It sets a number of objectives designed to maintain safety performance and provide strategic direction to initiatives to improve safety.