§ 5. Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about his proposal to make the wearing of seat belts compulsory in the Province; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarterThe proposal that power should be sought to make the wearing of seat belts mandatory in Northern Ireland was announced in September 1977, following a recommendation to that effect from a study group on road casualties. That recommendation and the proposal based upon it have since been supported by the Northern Ireland Road Safety Council, and a number of district council road safety committees. In September I received a petition signed by 82 surgeons in Northern Ireland urging the need for compulsory seat belt wearing. There have also been representations from the hon. Member for Antrim, South (Mr. Molyneaux) on behalf of his colleagues in the Ulster Unionist Party, the hon. Member for Abingdon (Mr. Neave) and the Secretary of the Democratic Unionist Party expressing concern about the substance, timing or proposed method of implementing the recommendation.
§ Mr. GowDoes the Minister understand that there is a widespread objection in the House to legislating by Statutory Instrument on an issue of this importance for a part of the United Kingdom only, and that that objection is greatly increased by the draft Statutory Instrument, now obtainable at the Vote Office, which shows that, in addition to the issue of seat belts, we shall, for example, be invited to approve an order dealing with the control and removal of builders' skips? Will he please look at this again?
§ Mr. CarterWhether or not provisions about scat belts were in the Statutory Instrument, skips would have been there. The method of passing legislation on this matter for Northern Ireland is no different from what it would be for any other matter. What the hon. Gentleman must bear in mind is that this proposal stemmed from an internal request flowing from a Northern Ireland study group, which knows—and knew then—that the accident rate in Northern Ireland is totally 1842 different from and much worse than in any other part of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. PowellWithout prejudice to the substantive issue, will the Government consider seriously whether it would assist the House in having this matter properly debated and decided if this proposal were presented in a separate order from the other and uncontroversial proposals? That would involve no loss of time, and would meet the desire generally in the House that the matter should be properly considered.
§ Mr. CarterNo, Sir. In any event, as we heard from the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow), it is not the only controversial matter in this order. If we were to concede this one, where would we end?
§ Mr. NeaveIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Opposition fully associate themselves with what the right hon. Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell) has just said? This is a highly controversial article in the order. It should be made a separate order. Will he not take it back so that we can debate it properly on the Floor of the House?
§ Mr. CarterNo, we shall not take it back. The hon. Member must know and fully understand that if it is the wish of the House that this order shall not pass, it can be voted down.
§ Mr. GowOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unreasonable intransigence of the Government I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment.