HC Deb 25 March 1994 vol 240 cc475-6W
Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the requirements laid down by United Kingdom and EC legislation for the fitting and wearing of seat belts in minibuses and coaches; which legislation applies to each requirement; and if he will make a statement on the possibility of further requirements being legislated for.

Mr. Key

Regulations 46 and 47 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1078) as amended, have required seat belts to be fitted to the front seats of minibuses and exposed forward-facing seats of coaches, since 1 October 1988. EC directives 76/115, 81/575, 82/318 and 90/629 in respect of seat belt anchorages and 77/541, 81/576, 82/319 and 90/628 in respect of seat belts, make, for new vehicles, similar provisions on seat belt fitment to the current United Kingdom regulations.

United Kingdom legislation (SI 1992/3105, SI 1993/31 and SI 1993/176) requires seat belts to be used wherever they are available in the front seats of all vehicles and in the rear seats of minibuses with an unladen weight of 2,540kg or less. It is illegal to carry an unrestrained child in the front seat of any vehicle. EC Directive 91/671 requires seat belts to be used in the front seats of vehicles of less than 3.5 tonnes and, where fitted, in the rear seats of cars with up to 8 passenger seats.

We are considering the technical and cost implications of fitting seat belts to all seats in minibuses and coaches and hope to publish the conclusions shortly.