§ Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Transport whether his Department is keeping in touch with new developments overseas in the design of motor cars so as to ensure the maximum safety to passengers in the event of accidents; in particular, whether a study has been made of the potentialities of a certain design, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for East Ham, North, produced by a United States insurance company; and what steps he is taking to stimulate the production of similar vehicles in this country.
§ Mr. MarplesYes. My Department keeps in close touch with all developments in vehicle design in this country and overseas which are likely to increase road safety. The information at present available to us about the design to which the hon. Member refers has been carefully examined by my technical advisers, and we are seeking further information. Some of the special design features of this model are of a practical character and are already incorporated in other models now in production; some appear to be neither wholly suitable nor easily adaptable for incorporation in normal cars, and one or two seem to be of doubtful value.