HC Deb 03 May 1994 vol 242 cc465-7W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education concerning the introduction of a requirement to provide a seat for each school child travelling on school journeys using minibuses, buses or coaches, and a seat belt for every seat; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education as part of our review of the technical and cost implications of fitting seat belts to all seats in all minibuses and coaches.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the European directives which apply to the design and construction of minibus, bus and coach regulations; and what action he intends to take to enable future harmonisation for the installation of seat belts in school minibuses, buses and coaches.

Mr. Key

A proposal for a draft directive on bus, coach and minibus construction is currently being discussed in a European Commission experts group. Other directives applying to these vehicles are set out in annex IV of directive 92/53/EEC, amending directive 70/156/EEC.

The European Commission announced in February its strategy for improving bus and coach safety: their objective is to agree the technical requirements for fitting seat belts to all seats in vehicles which do not carry standing passengers.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the research he has commissioned relating to future installation of seat belts in school minibuses, buses and coaches used to transport school children; and what further research he intends to commission.

Mr. Key

The Department has conducted a good deal of research into the fitment of seat belts mainly in relation to cars. Much of this research has been published and can be used to inform policy on the fitment of seat belts in other vehicles. Further research projects into various aspects of bus and coach safety are planned for the near future, but contracts have not yet been let.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current regulations which exist to regulate the driving of public service vehicles, including their drivers, and from which buses, minibuses or coaches transporting school children, could be exempt.

Mr. Key

The driving licence arrangements for passenger-carrying vehicles are contained in the Motor Vehicle (Driving Licences) (Large Goods and Passenger-Carrying) Vehicles) Regulations 1990 SI 1990 No. 2612.

Drivers of buses, minibuses or coaches transporting school children are only exempt from PCV licensing if they drive under the terms of permits granted under regulations made under section 19 of the Transport Act 1985. These are the Minibus and Other Section 19 Permit Buses Regulations 1987 SI 1987 No. 1230, the section 19 Minibus (Designated Bodies) Order 1987 SI 1987 No. 1229, and the Section 19 Minibus (Designated Bodies) (Amendment) Order 1990 SI 1990 No. 1708. But, in practice, most drivers of vehicles transporting school children do not make use of these permits as they are contracted-in from bus operators whose drivers hold full PCV entitlement.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit Strathclyde to discuss with Strathclyde council its reasons for banning the practice of seating three school children to a two-seater seat on buses and coaches used for school journeys.

Mr. Key

No. The Carrying Capacity Regulations permit three seated children under the age of 14 to share a double seat and count as two passengers. This is a concession and authorities and operators may take advantage of it as they think fit.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the research he has commissioned in respect of the retrospective fitting of seat belts to minibuses, buses and coaches used to transport school children.

Mr. Key

The diversity of vehicle types used for school transport and the way in which they are constructed are such that research of this kind could not be undertaken economically.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the installation and enforcement of the wearing of seat belts in minibuses, buses and coaches used as school buses.

Mr. Key

I have received a great many representations on this subject.

We are currently reviewing the full technical and cost implications of fitting seat belts to all seats in all minibuses and coaches, not just those used as school buses.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the Belt Up School Kids organisation to discuss seat belt safety in buses, coaches and minibuses used for school journeys.

Mr. Key

Yes. I have agreed to meet representatives of the originating BUSK group.

Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what records he maintains of school buses checked and found not roadworthy; and if he will publish the results of such adverse tests(a) by local education authority area and (b) for each year since 1985.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 28 April 1994]: There are no special arrangements for testing vehicles contracted to carry children to and from school. Like all coaches, buses and minibuses with more than eight passenger seats they must be tested one year after first being registered and annually thereafter. The arrangements for annual testing have not changed since 1985.

In addition VI staff also conduct roadside spot checks on all vehicle types. In 1992–93, the last full year for which figures are available, the vehicle inspectorate carried out almost 25,000 roadside spot checks on public service vehicles and issued immediate prohibitions, for dangerous defects, in 5.2 per cent. of cases. About one third of the PSV fleet is checked in this way annually and there are no plans to change that figure.

Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how frequently his Department's inspectorate carries out tests on vehicles contracted to transport children to and from school; what changes have been made to the arrangements for such tests since 1985; what reports of adverse results from spot checks he has received in 1994; what changes he plans; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 28 April 1994]: This information is unavailable. School buses are not a separate class of vehicle. Consequently the vehicle inspectorate, which is responsible for roadworthiness enforcement, does not maintain a separate record on the roadworthiness of these vehicles.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to bring the United Kingdom into line with other EC member states in regulations relating to drivers' records and tachographs in relation to school buses and minibuses; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 29 April 1994]: The United Kingdom applies the EC regulations on drivers' hours and tachographs in respect of school buses and minibuses. I have no plans to change the present position.