§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take about the publicising and renewed instruction on the National Cycling Proficiency Scheme in view of departmental evidence that the "youngest user" category shows an accident rate 12 times higher for cyclists than for drivers of four-wheeled motor vehicles.
§ Dr. GilbertThere is no doubt that cyclists are more at risk than car drivers and that children are particularly vulnerable. The National Cycling Proficiency Scheme continues to make progress, and more than 255,000 children were trained under it last year. The scheme is an important element in the measures available to local authorities to fulfil their statutory duty of promoting road safety, and I hope that, so far as resources allow, they will continue to take advantage of it.