§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what function has been played within the railway industry by Global Crossing; [34939]
(2) what discussions he has had with (a) Ernst and Young, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority and (c) the HSE on the potential impact on the railway industry of the collapse of Global Crossing; [34943]
(3) what effect the collapse of Global Crossing (a) has had and (b) is likely to have upon the rail network; and what steps his Department (i) has taken and (ii) will be taking in response to its collapse; [34942]
(4) what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority have had since 1997 with (i) Railtrack and (ii) the Rail Administrators regarding the work of (A) Racal Telecom and (B) Global Crossing within the railway industry; [34947]
(5) what steps the (a) SRA, (b) HSE and (c) Railway Administrators (i) have taken and (ii) will be taking in response to the collapse of Global Crossing. [34941]
§ Mr. JamiesonGlobal Crossing supplies telecom and associated services to the UK rail industry. I understand that the company have assured their European customers that service provision will be unaffected while it seeks to re-structure its finances in the United States.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) on what dates discussions took place between the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing; [35000]
(2) what representations he has received from (a) Railtrack, (b) the (Shadow) Strategic Rail Authority,(c) the Health and Safety Executive, (d) Racal Telecom, (e) Global Crossing, (f) the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and (g) the Competition Commission between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing; [34970]
(3) on what dates discussions took place between the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing; [34972]
387W(4) on what dates discussions took place between the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions and his Department and (a) Railtrack, (b) the (Shadow) Strategic Rail Authority, (c) the Health and Safety Executive, (d) Racal Telecom, (e) Global Crossing and (f) the Competition Commission between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing; [34971]
(5) on what dates discussions took place between the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and his Department and (a) Railtrack, (b) the (Shadow) Strategic Rail Authority,(c) the Health and Safety Executive, (d) Racal Telecom and (e) Global Crossing between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing; [35002]
(6) what representations were received from (a) Railtrack, (b) the (Shadow) Strategic Rail Authority,(c) the Health and Safety Executive, (d) Racal Telecom, (e) Global Crossing and (f) the Department of Trade and Industry between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing; [35001]
(7) what assessment was made by his Department of the impact of the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing in November 1999 on its delivery of functions related to the railway, with specific reference to (a) economic aspects and (b) safety critical functions. [34937]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing was a commercial matter for the two private companies concerned, not my Department.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will outline the safety critical functions within the railway industry for which Global Crossing has had responsibility; [34969]
(2) what (a) safety warnings, (b) enforcement notices and (c) prosecutions have been placed upon Global Crossing (formerly Racal Telecom) by the Health and Safety Executive regarding safety offences related to the railways between (i) May 1997 and October 1999 and (ii) November 1999 and January 2002; [34946]
(3) what timetable for safety work on the railways has been agreed between Racal Telecom and (a) Railtrack,(b) the HSE and (c) his Department since December 1995; [34945]
(4) if he will list the requirements contained in the contract Global Crossing has had with Railtrack with regard to (a) its safety function, (b) a timetable for the improvement of safety critical functions and (c) other functions related to the running of the railway network; [34968]
(5) what the timetable is for the implementation of safety critical improvements agreed by Racal Telecom since December 1995; and what progress has been made towards these targets. [34940]
§ Mr. JamiesonRacal Telecom (now Global Crossing) have a contractual arrangement with Railtrack, which is a commercial matter between the companies. There are no agreements between Racal Telecom/Global Crossing and either the Health and Safety. Executive (HSE) or my Department. Global Crossing supplies telecom and388W associated services to the British rail industry. Railtrack as infrastructure manager retains overall responsibility for safety. HSE advise that there have been no prosecutions against Racal Telecom or Global Crossing since 1 April 1999, or enforcement notices since 1 April 2001. HSE data from before this date are not available without incurring disproportionate cost.