HERTSMERE MP James Clappison has called on Transport Secretary Lord Adonis to set a date for an inquest into the Potters Bar rail tragedy.
In June, the minister announced an independent inquest into the 2002 derailment – in which seven people died and 76 were injured – would be held to ensure “complete public scrutiny”.
But now, more than five months on, a date has yet to be fixed and Mr Clappison is not happy.
He told the Potters Bar Edition: “With the rate of progress, we are going to have an eighth anniversary before we have had an inquest.”
Mr Clappison, the Conservative work and pensions spokesman, described the delay in holding an inquiry as “unacceptable” and said he will write to Lord Adonis to find out why it has taken so long.
He also welcomed the news that Lord Adonis, a government minister in the House of Lords, might be willing to break with centuries of parliamentary tradition and answer questions directly from MPs in the Commons.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said in a brief statement: “We continue to work with the Lord Chief Justice to identify an appropriate judge to act as assistant deputy coroner for the Potters Bar inquest.”
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