§ 29. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made in his study of the design of safety seat belts for use in motor vehicles; if he is satisfied with the safety standards of those at present on sale; and what further action he proposes to take to ensure that safety standards are maintained.
§ Mr. MarplesI am satisfied that any seat belt or harness conforming to the British Standard published last July is safe and provides good protection for the wearer. Work on revising and improving the Standard, is, however, continuing.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerMay I ask the Minister two questions? First, will he take every possible opportunity of publicising the findings of responsible bodies as to what is the appropriate type of seat belt the public should use, because many of us are in a state of confusion as to what the right type is? Secondly, will he look very closely at unofficial bodies which have been giving advice which is, apparently, quite wrong about seat belts, and particularly the so-called British Safety Council?
§ Mr. MarplesI can assure the hon. Gentleman, on the first part of this supplementary question, that I will do my best to publicise it. I should not like people in this country to buy seat belts or harness unless it has the B.S.I. kite mark on the actual seat belt. On the second part of the question, I am very disturbed at the way in which some bodies are trying to push certain commodities which, in fact, do not measure up to the standards. I really am.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs my right hon. Friend aware that there was a very penetrating article published in the Shoppers' Guide by the Consumers' Association, which has been widely circularised in the motoring Press, and I am quite sure 456 the public have taken notice of its recommendations.
§ Mr. StraussThe Minister will agree that the usefulness of this belt depends very largely on the strength of the equipment which attaches it to the body of the car. As it is likely that these belts, improperly attached by, maybe, some small garages, will make the harness quite useless, will the right hon. Gentleman consider bringing in regulations under which all new cars after a certain date will embody proper attachment equipment to which the safety belt can be attached later on?
§ Mr. MarplesThere are two parts to the safety belt; first, the safety belt itself, and, secondly, the anchorage. So far as the anchorage is concerned, I have already taken action and have asked the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to have talks with my Department with a view to seeing if we can incorporate the anchorage when the body of the car is built and not after. Discussions have been proceeding for some months now on that basis. At the moment they are on the technical level, but I assure my hon. Friend that I have this matter very much at heart. I should like all new cars in this country to have the anchorage installed while they are being built, and then to recommend the type of webbing which should go with that particular anchorage.