Mr John Spellar (Minister of State (Transport), Department for Transport; Warley, Labour)

I hope to demonstrate that the amendment is unnecessary. The hon. Member for Bath indicated that it was a probing amendment.

As we have said throughout the discussion, the rail accident investigation branch will carry out open and transparent investigations into accidents and will publish its reports into those accidents as quickly as possible. We want it to be able to get on with its investigations.

If the Secretary of State decided that a public inquiry into a particular accident was warranted, which might be on the advice of the chief inspector, he could, as the hon. Member for Bath mentioned, set one up. The Secretary of State does not have to rely on the other powers that the hon. Gentleman mentioned. He can call a public inquiry into any matter, under prerogative powers, or he can appoint a tribunal to inquire into a matter of urgent public importance and endow it with powers under the Tribunals of Enquiry (Evidence) Act 1921.

That gives an indication of circumstances in which an inquiry could be held, but we hope that, in general, public inquiries will be unnecessary, because much of their role will be undertaken more expeditiously by the rail accident investigation branch. That is why its establishment was recommended by Cullen and why we have included it in the Bill.

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