HC Deb 24 April 2002 vol 384 cc290-2W
Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 March 2002,Official Report, columns 952–53W, on London Underground, who will make the decision on further revision to safety cases; and who determined the requirement for previous safety cases. [51453]

Mr. Jamieson

As the duty holder under the Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 (as amended), London Underground is responsible for revising its railway safety case. Where a revision would make an accepted safety case "materially different", the duty holder is required to submit the proposed revision to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for assessment and consideration for acceptance. Guidance is set out in HSE's publication "Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 including 2001 Amendments—Guidance on Regulations".

Decisions on previous safety cases were a matter for London Underground and the HSE.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers he has to require London Underground(a) in the public sector and (b) under the control of the Mayor and Transport for London to deliver the promised improvements to (i) rolling stock, (ii) signalling equipment, (iii) track and (iv) stations of the Metropolitan line within budget and on time. [51263]

Mr. Jamieson

Under the proposals for the modernisation of London Underground three contracts for maintenance and investment work would be awarded to private sector infrastructure companies. The contracts set clear requirements for improvements to be achieved by specific dates, with significant financial penalties for any delay. In order to meet their contractual obligations the infrastructure companies would have to deliver improvements to rolling stock, signalling, track and stations on all lines, including the Metropolitan line. The infrastructure companies would also take the risk of any cost overruns that result from their own inefficient or uneconomic behaviour.

The contractual obligations would be set out in legally binding contracts between London Underground and the infrastructure companies.

Provided a final decision is taken to proceed with the modernisation plans, it is the Secretary of State's intention to transfer London Underground to Transport for London once contracts are in place.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers he has to require London Underground(a) in the public sector and (b) under the control of the Mayor and Transport for London to keep particular stations open and particular services running. [51262]

Mr. Jamieson

In relation to(a) London Underground is currently a nationalised industry, in the public sector. When it transfers to the control of Transport for London it will remain in the public sector. The Secretary of State's current powers in relation to London Underground are largely set out in the London Regional Transport Act 1984. These include a power (section 32) to give directions of a general nature, but not to require particular services to be run.

In relation to (b), the Mayor has a general duty (section 141 of the Greater London Authority Act 2000) to promote and encourage safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within Greater London, and is required to publish a transport strategy setting out his proposals. The Secretary of State has powers (section 143) to issue directions to revise that transport strategy if it is inconsistent with national transport policy and that inconsistency is detrimental to any area outside Greater London.

Currently the Secretary of State's consent is needed under the Railways Act 1993's Alternative Closure Procedure for the withdrawal of all underground services from a station. After the underground has come under the control of Transport for London the Mayor's consent will

Date Accident type Vessel name(s) Vessel category Goods
14 April 1992 Contact Sea Service Offshore supply Fuel oil
30 August 1992 Grounding Thalmeyster Mogutov Fishing vessel Diesel oil
5 January 1993 Machinery Braer Tanker Crude and fuel and gas oil
2 March 1993 Flooding Charlynne II Fishing vessel Fuel oil
28 April 1993 Grounding Freja Svea Tanker Fuel and residual crude oil
30 August 1993 Grounding Kandalaksha Merchant vessel Diesel and gas oil
2 November 1993 Capsize Gilsea Fishing vessel Fuel and hydraulic oil
9 November 1993 Grounding Lunohods 1 Fishing vessel Diesel and gas oil
17 November 1993 Grounding Borodinskoye Polye Fishing vessel Oil
1 February 1994 Flooding Paragon Fishing vessel Fuel oil
16 February 1994 Grounding Cam Vedette Fast rescue craft Oil
29 July 1994 Flooding Gladnes Fishing vessel Fuel oil
8 September 1994 Grounding Blackheath Tanker Oil
30 September 1994 Grounding Watchful Fishing vessel Fuel oil
31 October 1994 Grounding Pionersk Fishing vessel Gas and lubricating and fuel oil
24 November 1994 Flooding Chrisande Fishing vessel Fuel oil
24 January 1995 Grounding Mystique Fishing vessel Fuel oil
24 January 1995 Flooding Emulous II Fishing vessel Oil
28 January 1995 Grounding Regent Bird Fishing vessel Fuel oil
8 March 1995 Contact United Trader Merchant vessel Oil
6 April 1995 Grounding Flying Childers Merchant vessel Fuel oil
28 June 1995 Grounding Adenia 11 Fishing vessel Gas oil
31 July 1995 Flooding Elesis Fishing vessel Oil
19 October 1995 Grounding Solan Fishing vessel Fuel oil
20 October 1995 Grounding Golf Star Bulk carrier Fuel oil
3 November 1995 Flooding Defiant Fishing vessel Fuel oil
21 December 1995 Hull failure Alandria Wave Tanker Lubricating and crude oil
1 January 1996 Fire and grounding Inconnu Fishing vessel Fuel oil
15 February 1996 Grounding Sea Empress Tanker Crude and fuel oil
7 March 1996 Collision Geopotes 14/Naomi E Dredger/tug Lubricating oil
29 October 1996 Contact Asian Reefer Cargo Fuel oil
11 November 1996 Capsize Bever Tug Fuel oil

replace the Secretary of State's, but, in respect of services outside Greater London, will be subject to appeal to the Secretary of State (section 203–204 of the GLA Act and Schedule 5 of the Railways Act 1993).