§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present use of car seat belts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeytonThe Government are particularly concerned to cut down the toll of deaths and serious injuries on the roads which could be avoided by the use of seat belts. We therefore intend to make immediate inquiries into the means of intensifying the use of seat belts, including the desirability or otherwise of compulsion.
We shall as a first step be consulting the various interested bodies, in particular the police, the medical profession, the car and seat belt manufacturers and the motoring organisations. Before any final decision is taken, a full report will be made to Parliament on the results of these consultations and on the Government's provisional conclusions.