Responding to Douglas Alexander's statement on rail security today, RMT general secretary Bob Crow also renewed the union's call for an industry-wide forum for rail security and urged the government to ensure that all stations are adequately staffed with safety-trained personnel every moment they are open to the public.

"Any measures that improve security and safety for passengers and our members and reduce the risk of terrorist attack are to be welcomed," Bob Crow said.

"However, the government still intends to do away with the essential 'Section 12' sub-surface station regulations that were introduced after the King's Cross Fire and to replace them with the far looser and less specific Fire Safety Order.

"Keeping those regulations in place is a simple step that would help prevent the cost-led downgrading of fire-safety precautions that would otherwise be allowed under the Fire Safety Order.

"Getting uniformed and properly trained staff back onto every railway station is another essential step that would help improve security, boost passenger confidence and increase rail use," Bob Crow said.

"Ever since July 7 have been seeking a meeting with ATOC to forge an industry-wide approach to rail security, and we would welcome any move that would help bring that about," Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes to editors: The 1989 Regulations make up Section 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971, and were added on the recommendation of the Fennell Report into the 1987 King's Cross fire. They cover 'sub-surface stations' throughout Britain, including those on underground systems in Glasgow, Tyne and Wear and London, but also national rail stations which are 'sub-surface', including Birmingham New Street, London's Charing Cross and several in Liverpool. The government's Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2004, as originally drafted, would have repealed the 1971 Act, and with it the Section 12 regulations.

The regulations stipulate minimum safe staffing levels, means of detecting and warning of fires and means of escape and firefighting, as well as standards of fire-resistant construction, training and various other precautions, which are not specified in the Fire Safety Order the government wants to replace them with.

The government's first move to scrap the 1989 regulations - which lay down minimum staffing levels and other safety standards for sub-surface stations - was opposed by the House of Commons' Regulatory Reform Committee in October 2004, following an intervention by RMT parliamentary group convenor John McDonnell. The relevant part of the committee's report is attached.

The government has subsequently said it would repeal the regulations in April 2006, but most recently indicated that it would do so six to 12 months after the Fire Safety Order comes into force. However, the Fire Safety Order and guidance do not give the same statutory protections as in the 1989 Regulations, specifically on:

* Means of escape
* Means of fighting fire
* Means of detection and giving warning
* Fire-resistant construction
* Instruction and training
* Keeping of records
* Additional precautions including practicable steps to prevent smoking, and staffing levels.

Parliamentary Early Day Motion 549, tabled by John MacDonnell after the London bombings and signed to date by 65 MPs

Early Day Motion 549 - Fire Precautions Regulations

In the name of John McDonnell and 64 others:

"That this House condemns the terrorist attacks on London's public transport network and commends the bravery and professionalism of the emergency services, London Underground, national rail network and London bus service workers who were on hand to provide assistance and support in the immediate aftermath of the attacks; notes that the Government is set to review the Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989, introduced following the Fennell Report into the 1987 King's Cross Fire disaster; further notes that the Regulations set out minimum standards for fire precautions in sub-surface railway stations including means of escape, means of fighting fire, minimum staffing levels and staff instruction and training; believes that these minimum standards are even more essential in light of the recent terrorist attacks; and calls on the Government to retain in full the 1989 Regulations."