HC Deb 30 October 1981 vol 10 cc495-6W

Mr. John Fraser asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to make regulations for the compulsory fitting of seat belts in the rear of cars.

Mr. David Howell:

Some car owners already fit and use rear seat belts, and from 1 October 1981 all new cars must have anchorage points for them. But I have no plans at present to require compulsory fitting.

Mr. Marlow asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will set out in the Official Report in tabular form the results of his assessment of the effects of seat belt legislation on the incidence of accidents in other countries.

Mr. David Howell:

The information which we received from other countries was neither complete enough nor in sufficiently comparable form to enable us to do more than reach the limited conclusions on fatalities which we have already made known. I regret, therefore, that I cannot provide information in the form requested. I shall, however, write to my hon. Friend giving him as much of the detailed background as I can.