Clause 4 - General aims
Railways and Transport Safety Bill
10:45 am
Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat)
I beg to move amendment No.7, in
clause 4, page 2, line 25, leave out 'the desirability' and insert 'its objectives'.
The amendment is intended to firm up the Government's objectives for the rail accident investigation branch. The clause says that the RAIB
''shall have regard to the desirability of—
(a) improving the safety of railways, and
(b) preventing railway accidents''
That sounds extremely vague, which I am sure is not the Government's intention. No doubt the Minister will explain why it is not vague. Our amendment would ensure that the functions and the objectives of the RAIB were much clearer. That is why we would like to see the above provisions defined as objectives.
That would receive the support of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, which has drawn a comparison between the sole objective given to the air accident investigation branch, and the much looser terminology associated with the RAIB. I hope that the Minister will explain why he feels that the vagueness of wording is appropriate. Following on from our discussion on the need to report back on progress and implementation of recommendations, I hope that the Minister might comment on whether the general aims could be expanded to include some of the reporting points mentioned, even if he accepts the objectives but leaves the wording as it stands.
In conclusion, the purpose of our amendment is to firm up the responsibilities and role of the RAIB. I hope that the Minister will be able to support it.