§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on rail safety following the Paddington rail disaster; and if he will make a statement on the safety measures to be taken and who will be responsible for implementing them. [96545]
§ Mr. HillMinisters have received a large number of representations from many quarters. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced measures being taken to the House on 19 October 1999,Official Report, columns 266-69. Further recommendations will no doubt emerge from the Public Inquiry into this disaster.
In addition, on 25 October my right hon. Friend agreed an immediate plan with rail industry leaders covering further measures to improve safety, namely: consistent standards of driver training; a nationwide independent confidential reporting system; accelerating implementation of the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) and development of Automatic Train Protection (ATP); immediate investigation of all signals passed at danger (SPADs) to a common standard; urgent action on the 22 Actions required by the HSE for reducing SPADs; and establishing a consistent approach to safety management.