HC Deb 07 March 1983 vol 38 c299W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in his study of the effects of wearing seat belts, he will include the case of Trevor Parker, of Dean Road, Liskeard, Cornwall, in which the police and coastguards considered that his life was saved by not wearing a seat belt when his car plunged over the cliff and caught alight.

Mrs. Chalker

The police compile information on accidents using the Stats 19 form. This information will be among the data which will be used to provide an overall assessment of the effect of compulsory seat belt wearing when the renewal of the regulations is to be considered.

Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what guidelines he has issued to medical boards enforcing the new seat belt law; and whether registered disabled persons are normally exempted;

(2) if he will list his powers in respect of enforcement decisions made by medical boards in respect of applications for exemptions from the seat belt laws;

(3) if he will set up an appeal procedure in respect of decisions made by medical boards in dealing with applications for exemption from the seat belt laws.

Mrs. Chalker

In common with other medical practitioners, doctors giving free medical examinations at DHSS medical boarding centres have received the non-statutory guidelines issued by the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention. Decisions in respect of registered disabled persons depend on the doctor's assessment in each individual case. Section 27 of the Transport Act 1981 gives the Secretary of State no powers over the decisions of individual doctors, nor does it provide for an appeals procedure. However, any applicant who is refused a certificate is entitled to apply to other doctors. I have already said that where a disabled applicant is refused exemption at a DHSS medical boarding centre, I will consider sympathetically the case for a further free examination.

Mr. Arthur Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why it was decided to exclude from the seat belt law motor mechanics in front passenger seats of vehicles with trade plates.

Mrs. Chalker

Wearing a seat belt could, on occasion, prevent a motor mechanic in the front passenger seat from carrying out adjustments or diagnosing faults when the vehicle was in motion.