HC Deb 26 March 1996 vol 274 c544W
Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what factors underlay the decision of the Health and Safety Executive not to publish a detailed account of the accident on a high-speed train at Maidenhead on 8 September 1995; [22146]

(2) if he will order a full report into the fire on a high-speed train at Maidenhead on 8 September 1995. [22145]

Mr. Watts

The Health and Safety Executive acknowledged the seriousness of the accident and the level of public interest by announcing on 11 September 1995 that it would make public the findings of its investigation into the fire on a high-speed train at Maidenhead on 8 September 1995. The findings, with recommendations, were published by the HSE on 16 January 1996.

A fully detailed report supporting those findings and recommendations was not prepared for publication because in the HSE's view it would have delayed publication of the findings and recommendations, it was not considered necessary, given the public nature of the associated inquest, and it would have diverted the inspectors concerned from work more directly related to accident prevention.