§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the number of railway officers visiting schools to educate children on the importance of safety near railway lines has been reduced in the last two years. [21819]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOver the last two years there have been a number of safety campaigns launched by Railtrack, the British Transport Police and the railway companies to educate children and parents on the danger of trespassing on the railway. These include visits to schools by police officers and railway companies, particularly in areas where there is a high incidence of child trespass. Details of the number of officers who visit schools are not collected centrally.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) children and (b) adults have been killed on railway lines in each year since 1992. [21818]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThis information is contained in the Chief Inspector of Railways' Annual Report on Railway Safety in Great Britain, copies of which are placed in the Library each year. The figures for the number of(a) children and (b) adults killed on the railway are reproduced in the following tables.
427W
Fatalities on the railway 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 (A) Children under the age of 16 Passengers 0 0 0 1 0 Other members of the public 1 1 1 0 0 Trespassers 5 7 6 7 10 Suicides 0 1 0 0 0 Total 6 9 7 8 10 (B) Adults Passengers 18 17 17 10 17 Staff including contractors 11 8 9 5 2 Other members of the public 9 15 15 12 6 Trespassers 127 114 113 100 126 Suicides 132 140 135 126 116 Total 297 294 289 266 267
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions staff employed by Virgin Trains have visited schools to educate children about rail safety in the North West. [22061]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThis is a matter for Virgin Trains.