§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies his Department has made of the number and type of injuries caused by car seat belts.
§ Mr. John PattenNo specific study has been made of injuries caused by car seat belts. However, in association with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, the Department commissioned, on behalf of the four health departments, a study to assess the effect of legislation for the compulsory wearing of front seat belts on the mortality and morbidity of car occupants. The assessment, which has been undertaken by Mr. William Rutherford, consultant in accident and emergency services at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, has used data from the period one year before and one year after introduction of seat belt legislation. A full report is to be published in the near future and the results will be studied in the light of all other relevant data for the same period.