High-flying new cabinet minister Andrew Smith and his fellow Oxfordshire MP Shaun Woodward today backed an investigation to force key changes to the country's corporate manslaughter laws.

The Oxford Mail launched the campaign in the wake of last week's Paddington rail disaster, demanding action to make it easier for companies to be held directly responsible for the safety of their workers and customers.

Mr Woodward, the Witney MP and shadow minister for London, the regions, regeneration and transport, said: "I fully understand the arguments that the Oxford Mail is making. "We are all very angry about the Paddington rail disaster and we must make sure that all those who played a part in this accept full responsibility. This may include changes in the law on corporate manslaughter. Tragically, nothing can bring back the lives of those people who perished but we must do all we can to prevent another disaster like Paddington from happening again."

Oxford East MP and new Treasury Chief Secretary Mr Smith added: "I welcome the attention the Oxford Mail is focusing on this vital issue and I will make sure the views of local people are heard in Government."

A law allowing companies to be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter was drawn up by the Law Commission four years ago but was never presented to Parliament. The Law Commission's report was designed to place on the statute books new offences of reckless killing, killing by gross carelessness and corporate killing, to replace the offence of manslaughter in cases where death is caused without the intention of causing death or serious injury.

Section four of the Bill covered how a corporation would be found guilty of corporate killing if a failure by management led to a person's death, and if that failure meant the corporation fell below standards reasonably expected of it. But the last Conservative Government chose to allow it to gather dust.

Current Home Secretary, Jack Straw is not keen to outline his views on the draft bill. Mr Straw's junior minister, Paul Boateng, has said a working party will examine the report.

Labour MP for Aberdeen, Frank Doran, is pushing for the Government to create an offence of corporate manslaughter and reckless killing.

He began his campaign after the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988, in which 167 oil workers died in an explosion and fire on a North Sea rig.

Story date: Saturday 16 October

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