Written question asked by Earl of Haddington (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 March 1999. It was answered by Lord Whitty (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 March 1999.

Whitty, Lord

Question: What plans the Health and Safety Executive has in conjunction with Railtrack to undertake test borings into the structure and stability of the Severn rail tunnel walls, the strata and the detritus behind the walls; and what plans they have to close the Severn rail tunnel until a full examination has been undertaken into the structure and stability of the Severn rail tunnel to safeguard rail operator's passengers; and why the request of the tunnel engineering staff for test borings into: (a) the wall linings, and (b) the strata and detritus behind the walls which was put to British Rail Board members in 1985 to determine the structure and stability of the Severn rail tunnel using equipment and personnel from Oakdale Colliery was never undertaken; and whether they have any reservations about the state of the Severn rail tunnel and in particular with: (a) the integrity of the walls and linings; and (b) the condition of the strata and the relevance of the detritus behind the walls; and whether they have reached any conclusions on the results of any test borings. [HL 1411;H: 1412;HL 1413;HL 1414].

Secondary information