HC Deb 04 May 1966 vol 727 cc1598-9
20. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will set up an independent committee of inquiry to investigate standards of car safety, on the lines of the United States Senate sub-committee currently investigating the subject in the United States of America.

Mr. John Morris

No, Sir. One of the committees of the existing National Road Safety Advisory Council is specifically concerned with safety in vehicle design and use.

Mr. Hamilton

Is my hon. Friend completely satisfied with current safety standards in British cars? Can he say whether the Committee which has been referred to has power, as an ad hoc Select Committee of this House would have power, to send for persons and papers and to cross-examine the motor manufacturers, as can be done by the Senate sub-committee in the United States? Is the Minister aware that the Senate sub-committee has done so and has revealed some startling defects in American cars?

Mr. Morris

I am sure that my hon. Friend would not wish to duplicate existing committees, because the National Road Safety Advisory Council was set up as recently as 3rd March, 1965. We have our Regulations on the Construction and Use of Vehicles and the Lighting of Vehicles. These are constantly being reviewed.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Is the Minister aware that motor manufacturers are co-operating very closely with the Ministry over this question of safety and are fully prepared to do so in the future? Furthermore, is he aware that they are members of the Committee which has been referred to?

Mr. Morris

Yes.

Mr. Manuel

Is my hon. Friend satisfied with the progress made—there has very little—in car design? Is he aware that this is especially so in the case of commercial vehicles, the drivers of which have very little protection to prevent their loads coming on top of them? Is he aware that there has been many deaths arising from such circumstances?

Mr. Morris

I will certainly bear the remarks of my hon. Friend in mind.

Mr. Costain

Has the Minister considered publishing statistics of accidents, giving some indication of the type of vehicle involved and whether safety belts were fitted and being used?

Mr. Morris

A large number of statistics are being published, but that is a different question and I will certainly look at it.