§ 5. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had since taking office on the subject of road safety.
§ Mr. HoramWe have had several informal consultations on road safety and we have also started a programme of formal consultations with a wide range of bodies on transport policy in general. Road safety is one of the subjects discussed in these consultations.
§ Mr. GoodhartDoes the right hon. Gentleman accept the judgment of previous Transport Ministers that up to three lives a day could be saved by the introduction of compulsory seat belt wearing? If so, why have the Government allowed the seat belt legislation to collapse?
§ Mr. HoramThe Government have not allowed the seat belt legislation to collapse. It is our intention to press ahead, if we possibly can, at the earliest possible opportunity.
§ Mr. MacFarquharWill my hon. Friend reconsider the advice given by his Department to county authorities on the rationalisation of speed limits? Is he aware that in many rural areas people are extremely disturbed when they find that 30 m.p.h. limits are raised to 40 m.p.h. or 50 m.p.h. without, in their opinion, due care for the safety of themselves and their children?
§ Mr. HoramI take my hon. Friend's point. I think that the criteria for fixing 449 speed limits are fairly clear, but I hope that we shall be able to make more progress on that issue.
§ Mr. JesselAs the seat belt Bill received a Second Reading on a free vote by a majority of 110 as long ago as 1st March, should the Government fail to get it through in this Session by failing to provide suitable time in which its remaining stages can be completed, will they accept responsibility for the 20 people who are killed every week and who otherwise would be saved?
§ Mr. HoramI thank the hon. Gentleman for his support for the Bill and the remarks that he made on the morning after we had to adjourn the debate on 14th October, but I cannot agree that the Government have to take responsibility for road deaths of that kind.