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News Release from: The Engineering Council
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 23 November 2000
MP wants engineer on Railtrack Board
Engineer MP calls for more technical expertise on Railtrack Board, as pressure on the Government to find ways of restructuring the Railtrack Board mounted today.
Pressure on the Government to find ways of restructuring the Railtrack Board mounted today Michael Fabricant MP one of the few professional engineers in the House of Commons, tabled a Parliamentary Question to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, calling for a Board on which engineers with experience of running a railway occupy at least as many seats as financiers and businessmen with City experience
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Mr Fabricant said: 'Generating city finance for the railway is important, but operating the railway safely and punctually is vital for the public.
Gerald Corbett's resignation has highlighted the imbalance of expertise at Board level.
Until this is put right, with a large injection of engineering experience, public and City confidence will not return.
The Government should grasp this point and act quickly to secure changes'.
The Engineering Council, which is the governing body for the UK engineering profession, strongly welcomed Mr Fabricant's intervention.
Engineering Council Director General Malcolm Shirley commented: 'This is just the sort of common-sense proposal which is needed.
Railtrack's decision-taking can only be strengthened by shifting the balance back in the direction of professional engineers who understand how to maintain and operate the system.
Michael Fabricant deserves the full support of the public and the profession alike'.
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