§ Mr. KaufmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will call for a report from the Health and Safety Executive on the health implications of the continuing accumulation of garbage, in the walkway between Westminster underground station and the House; and if he will call for reports from London Underground on(a) the continued failure (i) to operate lifts at Westminster Station and (ii) to remove netting, fencing and tapes from the walkway from that station to the House on the recessed platform adjoining that walkway and (b) on signal failures on the westbound Jubilee Line on the morning of Monday 10 April. [118910]
§ Mr. HillThese are operational matters for London Underground (LU). HM Railways Inspectorate, part of the HSE organisation, is in discussion with LU on outstanding issues at Westminster and elsewhere on the extended Jubilee line.
LUL has cleared litter from the subway in question and will be liaising with Westminster Council (who own the new subway) to ensure that a regime is developed for routine maintenance and cleaning.
Three of the five lifts at Westminster are already operating. The remaining two are expected to enter service by the end of next month.
Fencing, tape etc. are in place where there is still work to be done (such as installing permanent lighting) in order to separate the works from the general public. In the interests of public presentation, white painted hoardings are shortly to replace some fencing, and will cover a few currently exposed ledges.
On the morning of 10 April, trains ran on average every 3-5 minutes westbound through Westminster. There was an 8 minute gap at 08.38 due to the activation of a passenger emergency alarm at Waterloo. There was a 7 minute gap at 09.24 due to a passenger being taken ill on a train at Canary Wharf. Finally, there was a 13 minute gap at 09.48 due to signal computer problems.