Deputy Prime Minister written question – answered at on 27 February 2006.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to change planning (a) guidelines and (b) regulations in relation to major hazard sites following the Hemel Hempstead fuel depot incident.
The Health and Safety Commission has formally asked the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency to investigate the incident at the Buncefield oil depot. The investigation is being overseen by an independent board, chaired by the right hon. Lord Newton of Braintree, which will report to the Health and Safety Commission.
The terms of reference for the investigation are wide-ranging. The report on the investigation will make recommendations for future action to ensure the effective management and regulation of major accident risks at sites such as Buncefield. This should include consideration of offsite as well as onsite risks and consider prevention of incidents, preparations for response to incidents and mitigation of their effects.
Investigation work has begun and its initial findings on the causes of the incident will be made public as soon as possible. Once this information is available the Government will examine it very thoroughly to see what lessons are to be drawn from this incident. Until the causes of the incident are established it would be premature to comment.
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