On the potential cost of the new corporate manslaughter law...

Rhys Griffiths apologises for what will inevitably be a gloomy session on the new corporate manslaughter law, and its implications for health and safety culture in travel companies.

Talk about 'promoting a good health and safety culture' may not raise delegates from the post-coffee break torpor - it's all rather top-line stuff, and the session picks up when questions and answers allow us to drill down into some practical examples.

Griffiths throws out some striking numbers though. Great Western was fined £1.5m for the Southall rail crash in 1997 - that's 0.2% of its then turnover. Under the new law, it would have been hit with 5% of turnover, which comes to almost £40m. If there are aggravating circumstances, the fine could rise to 10%, and you can do that math on your own...