MID Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has urged that all the lessons of the tragedy at Charlton last year are learned.

Mr Luff said: "What a tragedy that day last July was for the families of those who were killed, and how a much greater tragedy could have occurred if the minibus had not simply been struck a glancing blow by the train.

"Had it been further across the tracks probably everyone in the minibus would have been killed and the train itself would have derailed with heavens knows what consequences. What matters now though is that the circumstances are not repeated.

"We know from the evidence produced in court that Karim was recruiting labour illegally and that the labourers he recruited were being paid below the minimum wage. We also know that he was driving the minibus illegally. It was not properly insured and he could not read English road signs."

Mr Luff added: "The Gangmasters (Licensing) Bill is before Parliament tomorrow and I will be there to help it on its way to the statute book. It is not a perfect bill - no system of regulation is ever that and it leaves too much power in the hands of ministers. But it is the only bill we have.

"Although Karim broke the present law, we need this new law too to give everyone involved - government, employers, gangmasters and employees - a framework in which responsibilities are properly understood."

Simms and Woods is the company that produces salad onions and leeks on the farm where the accident happened. Managing director James Massingham said: "Due to on-going legal proceedings, whilst expressing our deepest sympathy to the families of the deceased, we are unable to comment further at this stage on any aspect of this matter."