§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the technical or engineering obstacles to the introduction of seat belts in minibuses and coaches.
§ Mr. KeyNone. Major manufacturers of minibuses now fit seat belts as standard equipment and coach manufacturers can provide them as an option. Most vehicles can be retrofitted; but there may be technical difficulties in some older vehicles because of the way in which they were originally constructed.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the European Union about the desirability of fitting seat belts in minibuses and coaches.
§ Mr. KeyFollowing the Auxerre coach accident in France in 1990, representations were made to the Commission to consider amendment of the relevant directives to allow the fitting of seat belts to all seats in minibuses and coaches. In the light of reaction from member states, the Commission concluded at the time that there was insufficient support for any proposal on these lines to take the matter forward.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obstacles exist in the European Union to the introduction of seat belts in minibuses and coaches.
§ Mr. KeyThe European Commission has recently announced a strategy for improved bus and coach safety which includes the fitment of seat belts in vehicles which do not carry standing passengers. We await its detailed proposals.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received on the desirability of requiring the introduction of safety belts in minibuses and coaches; and what is his timetable for responding to these.
§ Mr. KeyI have received over 700 letters from both hon. Members and members of the public on this subject during the last seven months, as well as a large number of telephone calls.
We aim to reply to letters from members of the public within 20 working days of receipt.