HC Deb 24 November 1977 vol 939 cc1738-40
9. Mr. Ridley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to lay an order requiring compulsory use of seat belts in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Carter

It is my intention to publish a proposal for a draft Roads and Road Traffic Order in Council early in December in which power will be sought to require the driver and front passenger of certain motor vehicles to wear seat belts.

Mr. Ridley

Is the Minister aware that the reason the legislation on seat belts did not go through this House was that a large number of unresolved dilemmas and difficulties were brought out in debate? Would it not be calamitous for him to short-circuit those awkward questions and that debate by laying an Order in Council? Further, might it not be risking human life to require seat belts to be worn in areas where there could be car bombs or terrorist attacks, for seat belts could delay the driver in escaping from a vehicle?

Mr. Carter

The hon. Member is wrong on the first point. The order will be subject to affirmative resolution and there will be a full-ranging discussion on the subject. There will be no denial of the democratic process. As for his second point, those who would be affected by the wearing of seat belts in a security sense will be exempted under the legislation.

Mr. Powell

Would the Government be seeking to make this change in the law of Ireland if they had to do it in the same way as they have to change the law in any other part of the kingdom?

Mr. Carter

The right hon. Member should know—he has made no comment so far on the subject—that the proposals stemmed from an independent inquiry set up in Northern Ireland to examine road conditions in Northern Ireland. The first recommendation was that the wearing of seat belts should be made compulsory. The right hon. Member will equally know that in other aspects of the law he and his hon. Friends are pressing the Government to take action of a unique kind for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Canavan

As an estimated 60 lives could be saved every year in Northern Ireland if the order were implemented, is it not sheer irresponsibility for hon. Members opposite to use delaying tactics which may cause deaths?

Mr. Carter

My hon. Friend is right, and I think that the people of Northern Ireland would regard it with the utmost cynicism if the proposal for seat belts for Northern Ireland was beaten down on a procedural point in the House of Commons.

Mr. Neave

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Opposition take a very serious view of the constitutional questions involved here? I support what my hon. Friends have just said. Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that the Government's Bill to make compulsory the wearing of seat belts is not even in the Queen's speech and is not being revived in this Session? In that case, why is Northern Ireland being singled out for this treatment by Order in Council? Will he explain the constitutional practice of trying to extend what is sensitive primary legislation to Northern Ireland in this way?

Mr. Carter

The hon. Gentleman is wrong. I cannot predict with any certainty, but we shall be introducing measures for Northern Ireland that were not in the Queen's Speech, and I am sure that they will receive the support of the hon. Gentleman.

The truth about this proposal is that it stemmed from a request by Northern Irish people in Northern Ireland. Every representative of every organisation concerned with road transport and passenger safety in Northern Ireland is in favour of the proposal—the Press, the media, surgeons, and the medical world generally. The only people who appear to be against it are the Opposition.

Mr. Neave

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that he has entirely missed the point? This is a constitutional issue. Why has Northern Ireland been singled out as a guinea pig by an Order in Council for a sensitive bit of social legislation of this kind?

Mr. Carter

It is true that this is a sensitive issue, but many other issues in Northern Ireland are treated in a unique way and the hon. Gentleman does not object to that being done. We shall bring this measure to the House, and it will be subject to debate. It will be an affirmative order and can be defeated at the end of the day.

Mr. Ridley

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of those replies, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.