Clause 9 - Requirement to investigate
Railways and Transport Safety Bill
9:30 am
Mr John Spellar (Minister of State (Transport), Department for Transport; Warley, Labour)
I hope that I can reassure the hon. Lady that directions will be sent to the train-operating companies and will be published. The purpose of the clause is to implement Lord Cullen's recommendation that the RAIB should regularly examine the reports of formal industry investigations, which would
''determine whether there are matters of local or national importance which should be brought to the attention of the industry, for example if a number of accidents suggested a significant trend.''
We want the industry to co-ordinate its actions to a greater extent in that regard and that is best done under the RAIB umbrella, in a similar way to how the shipping and aviation sectors operate. The clause will ensure that minimum standards are followed and that there is consistency in the procedures. I hope that, as a result, companies will draw to the attention of staff and managers, especially those who will conduct internal company investigations, what their rights and responsibilities are. The issue is slightly different from RAIB investigations, but the clause will enable us to drive safety right through the industry and provide the mechanism for doing so.