§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (1) action he intends to take to ensure that the manufacturers of the Ford Fiesta cars registered G or H recall all the cars with defective seat belt mechanisms; and if he will make a statement; [17398]
(2) what action he intends to take concerning allegations of defective seat belts on Ford Fiesta cars registered G or H; [17400]
(3) what representations he has received concerning defects on seat belts on Ford Fiesta carts registered G or H; [17401]
(4) what investigations the Vehicle Certification Agency has carried out to ensure that the seatbelts of Ford Fiesta cars registered G and H function efficiently and correctly; [17396]
(5) what proposals he is considering to include an examination of the inertia reel of seat belts in the Ministry of Transport test. [17393]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department's Vehicle Inspectorate has received a small number of reports of seat belts failing to work correctly in Ford Fiesta cars. All have come from the Driving Standards Agency and relate to cars which have been used on driving tests. This is currently being investigated in conjunction with the vehicle manufacturer. It would be premature to decide on a course of action until the Vehicle Inspectorate's investigations are complete.
I hope that the matter will be resolved quickly.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of injuries to driving examiners have resulted from defects in seat belts on the car on which the test is taking palace for each year since 1988; if he will name the make, model and year of manufacture; and what measures he proposes to take to protect such examiners. [17392]
§ Mr. NorrisThe circumstances surrounding injuries to examiners on test were not recorded in this sort of detail in the past. The Driving Standards Agency is aware of nine cases of injuries to driving examiners on test which 561W were allegedly attributable to defects with seat belts in 1994, and seven during 1995. The agency's new accident reporting system, introduced this month, will provide for more detailed recording and analysis.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to protect driving examiners conducting driving tests in G or H registered Ford Fiesta cars. [17398]
§ Mr. NorrisIn addition to instructions to examiners about avoiding injuries on driving tests, and the new accident reporting system being implemented this month, the Driving Standards Agency will be reporting to the Vehicle Inspectorate information which indicates a potential fault in a vehicle component.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of injuries to driving examiners have resulted from defects on seat belts on ford Fiesta cars registered G or H. [17399]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Driving Standards Agency's records show that, since mid-1994, there have been six cases which were attributed to alleged defects in seat belts on those vehicles.