§ Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on regulations relating to the wearing of seat belts or restraining harnesses by children aged under 14 years in(a) Europe and (b) the United States of America.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI shall write to my hon. Friend shortly.
§ Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has any plans to seek to amend the age conditions governing the compulsory wearing of a seat belt in the front seat of a motor vehicle;
(2) if he has any plans to seek to amend the age conditions governing the compulsory use by a child in the front seat of a motor vehicle of child restraining harnesses.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo. I do want to encourage motorists to fit and use child restraints in the rear of their cars. We shall shortly be launching national press advertising and a revision of the leaflet "Protect Your Child in the Car". I shall make the leaflet widely available.
The safest place for young children to travel is in the rear seat of the car, wearing approved child restraints appropriate to their age.
If restraints are not fitted in the rear, it is safer for children to wear an adult belt in the front with a booster cushion as necessary to ensure the belt fits.