§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the policing of the Mersey Tunnel, with special reference to the deaths of Darren Franey and Scott Veach. [105691]
53W
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government are sorry to learn of the circumstances which led to the death of Darren Franey and Scott Veach.
Responsibility for the policing of the Mersey Tunnels rests with Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (Merseytravel), under provisions in the County of Merseyside Act 1980.
We, along with colleagues at the Home Office, will give careful consideration to the reports and recommendations that have been produced following the investigation into this tragic incident by Merseyside police under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority and by the Coroner.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on who sets the performance standards for the Mersey Tunnels Police Force; and what relation they have to the Police Complaints Authority. [106028]
§ Mr. JamiesonResponsibility for the policing of Mersey Tunnel rests with Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (Merseytravel), under provisions in the County of Merseyside Act 1980.
As Merseytravel is primarily responsible for the safe operation of the Mersey Tunnels, it falls on it to ensure that the law enforcement officers it appoints are trained to a standard that protects both the officers involved and users of the Tunnels and to provide such facilities necessary for the officers to carry out their duties in a safe and proper manner.
The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has no remit over the Mersey Tunnels Police. As a "non-Home Office" force they fall outside the primary legislation of the Police Act 1996 and no subsequent agreement has been reached to bring them within the PCA's remit. However, the Tunnel police have an agreement with Merseyside police for the investigation of incidents involving Merseyside police vehicles within the jurisdiction of the Tunnel police. Merseyside police do fall within the remit of the PCA; therefore. any investigation undertaken by the Merseyside police can be supervised by the PCA.
£ million Scheme SRA funding Funding from non-SRA sources Hexham-Carlisle: passenger information 99,000 29,000 Heart of Wales additional Sunday services 68,886 7,000 Taff Corridor: additional rolling stock 575,000 10 Brentford: service and station improvements 1,250,000 974,000 Thornaby: improved station facilities 179,000 289,000 Redruth: station improvements 95,000 116,000 Tamar Valley: Sunday services 72,272 20,000 Metro: additional rolling stock (Class 333s) Clitheroe—Blackburn services 244,000 61,000 Carmarthen—Milford Haven: additional rolling stock 216,400 0 Liskeard II Revised Bid (original approved bid withdrawn by sponsor and revised bid approved) Tees Valley: additional cycle parking 48,990 49,000