RMT also today welcomed the tabling of a House of Commons Early Day Motion by John McDonnell, (see below) which calls on the government to retain the regulations in order to ensure minimum statutory fire-safety protection at sub-surface railway stations throughout Britain.

After a sustained campaign, the governmemnt has previosuly postponed the scrapping of the 'Section 12' regulations (see notes below), and they continue to be in force alongside the new but far less specific Fire Safety Order, which was introduced in October.

"As we remember the 31 victims of the Kings Cross fire, we should also remember that it was as a direct result of that tragedy that the Section 12 regulations were introduced two years later," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"It is hugely disturbing that less than two decades after Kings Cross, and with the July 7 bombings still fresh in our minds, it remains possible that the strict minimum safety standards laid down as a result of the Fennell inquiry could be removed.

"The government's decision to postpone scrapping Section 12 in January this year was welcome, but it is imperative that ministers now recognise the need to keep them in place, because the Fire Safety Order is simply not an adequate substitute.

"The Section 12 regulations stipulate minimum statutory fire-safety measures that are simply not specified in the new Fire Safety Order, which turns the clock back to a discretionary approach and puts too much faith in relying on employers not to cut corners.

"It is good news that John McDonnell, who has done so much in parliament to keep these regulations in place, has tabled another Commons motion, and RMT members will be urging every MP to sign it.

"We look forward to the opportunity of outlining our concerns to Angela Smith, the minister now responsible, and will work within any forum to help ensure that these vital safeguards remain in place," 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 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 The government's Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2004, as originally drafted, would have repealed the 1971 Act, and with it the Section 12 regulations.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 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 came into force, which . 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 133, Fire Precautions Regulations

Tabled by John McDonnell and signed initially by Glenda Jackson, Jeremy Corbyn and Bob Russell

"That this House notes that the Government is reviewing 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 those 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; and therefore calls on the Government to maintain the regulations to ensure that there continues to be minimum statutory fire safety protection at sub-surface railway stations."

See also:

Call over Underground fire safety

Press Association: November 18, 2006

Union leaders stepped up their campaign to keep fire safety regulations in place across London Underground, on the 19th anniversary of the King's Cross fire, which claimed 31 lives.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said regulations brought in after the blaze in 1987 should not be watered down.

The union said it feared the Government still had plans to change the so-called Section 12 regulations, which set out minimum staffing levels and fire safety measures on the Tube, despite a long-running campaign to keep them intact.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "As we remember the 31 victims of the King's Cross fire, we should also remember that it was as a direct result of that tragedy that the Section 12 regulations were introduced two years later.

"It is hugely disturbing that less than two decades after King's Cross, and with the July 7 bombings still fresh in our minds, it remains possible that the strict minimum safety standards could be removed."

Labour MP John McDonnell has tabled a House of Commons motion urging the Government to maintain the regulations.

See also:

Union fears over Tube fire safety

BBC news:< 18 November 2006

On This Day: King's Cross fire
A union has stepped up its campaign to keep fire safety regulations in place across London Underground, on the 19th anniversary of the King's Cross fire.

King's Cross underground station after the 1987 fire

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said rules brought in after the blaze in 1987 should not be diluted.

A government spokesman said new fire safety regulations would lead to an even safer Underground system.

The King's Cross fire broke out under a wooden escalator at the central London Tube station and claimed 31 lives.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "As we remember the 31 victims of the King's Cross fire, we should also remember that it was as a direct result of that tragedy that the Section 12 regulations were introduced two years later.

'Hugely disturbing'

"It is hugely disturbing that less than two decades after King's Cross, and with the 7 July bombings still fresh in our minds, it remains possible that the strict minimum safety standards could be removed."

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "We do not accept the views of the RMT.

"Public safety is our number one priority and we believe the new fire safety rules will lead to an even safer underground system.

"We are committed to running the existing regulations in parallel with the new regime so the effectiveness can be seen and we won't be removing the old regulations until that has been demonstrated."

Labour MP John McDonnell has tabled a House of Commons motion urging the government to maintain the regulations.