§ Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce the necessary legislation to enable any person to take legal action against his Department if it can be proved that his injuries sustained in a vehicle crash were caused or aggravated by 146W the compulsory use of a seat belt; and similarly, to enable the next of kin to be able to take action in the event of the loss of life of their closest relative in similar circumstances.
§ Mr. David Howell:No. There would be considerable practical difficulties in such an arrangement, because it would be necessary to demonstrate that the injuries a person actually suffered through wearing a seat belt were worse, to a measurable extent, than the notional injuries he would have suffered had he not been wearing a belt. Such a calculation would rarely, if ever, be capable of being proved.