New clause 18 - Coordination between Health and Safety Executive and the Office of Rail Regulation

Part of Railways and Transport Safety Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:00 am on 11 February 2003.

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Photo of Don Foster Don Foster Shadow Secretary of State for Transport 11:00, 11 February 2003

The hon. Lady honestly said that she was genuinely confused, as I am, about the HSE's current role, and increasingly confused about its future role. The Minister has tried to be helpful, but he has not helped me much. I suspect that we need to go away with a damp cloth to try to work it out. Does the hon. Lady agree that there is confusion about who sets the standards, because there is conflict between the industry standards and the technical specifications for interoperability from Europe? No one has ever told me who is responsible for resolving conflict between

them. We have difficulty knowing which standards are set by the HSE, yet the HSE monitors the standards. I confess that I am confused. Does the hon. Lady share my confusion?