§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the road safety recommendations in the Transport Committee's report, and with particular respect to the fitting of rear seat belts and ways of encouraging the implementation of cost — effective small engineering schemes for accident reduction.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAs regards rear seat belts I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) on 24 July.
654WAs regards cost—effective small engineering schemes for accident reduction, the Department takes every opportunity to encourage local authorities to maintain an active programme. It is, however, for individual authorities to decide their own priorities for expenditure.