§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister for Transport what representations he has received from the medical profession about the wearing of seat belts in the light of his policy not to proceed with legislation making the wearing of seat belts compulsory; if he will make an estimate of the medical costs of treating people injured in road accidents who were not wearing seat belts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FowlerI have received a small number of representations from individual members of the medical profession and one from the British neurological surgeons. The saving in medical costs if all drivers and front seat passengers of cars wore seat belts has been estimated at between £5 million and £7 million.