Clause 7 - Investigator's powers
Railways and Transport Safety Bill
4:45 pm
Mr John Spellar (Minister of State (Transport), Department for Transport; Warley, Labour)
I am not sure that that is exactly how I would put it. Regarding aviation, people might be less open and less willing to reveal potential difficulties if they believed that it could lead to legal action further down the line. The purpose of an accident and investigation board, in the light of the other two boards' experiences, is to identify the cause of the accident in the shortest possible time and to draw appropriate lessons from it. That was the basis of Lord Cullen's inquiry and recommendations, which we have followed through, and the procedures should enhance safety in the industry. We are resistant to making witness statements available, though material evidence would be valuable—an issue that goes to the heart of the clause.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 7 ordered to stand part of the Bill.