§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he will make to other EU countries to legislate to require all coaches carrying children to have seat-belts fitted. [9795]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 21 July 1997]: Other EU member states are fully aware of the UK's keenness to have seat belts fitted to all coaches, and its national requirement for seat belts to be fitted in coaches used to carry children, but the decision to introduce a similar national requirement must remain one for the Governments of the individual EU member states. 493W However, we expect that in the future more foreign coaches will have seat belts, especially from 1 October 1999 when any member state can impose a general requirement for all coaches being registered to have seat belts fitted.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to prevent foreign coach operators carrying children as passengers in the United Kingdom without having seat belts fitted in their coaches. [9792]
§ Ms Jackson[holding answer 21 July 1997]: It is a long standing principle that certain of the UK's national vehicle regulations do not apply to vehicles registered abroad which are temporarily visiting this country. Similar arrangements apply when British vehicles travel to other EU countries. We do not require visiting foreign coaches to comply with our domestic regulations by fitting seat belts for children, and I do not believe it would be realistic to alter this. However, we expect that more foreign coaches will be fitted with seat belts in future as an amended seat belt directive starts to take effect that will allow member states to require the fitting of seat belts to all new coaches.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to prevent children being carried in European Union countries on coaches that do not have seat belts fitted. [9794]
§ Ms Jackson[holding answer 21 July 1997]: When organised trips to European Union countries start in Britain, newer British coaches must have seat belts available for children. This requirement will extend to older coaches in February next year. While such vehicles will often continue to be used for the journey outside Britain, we do not have any jurisdiction over the domestic transport arrangements for children within other countries if they use a local vehicle. However, we would encourage those arranging trips for British children abroad always to use coaches fitted with seat belts.