§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction(a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees,
176Wmessage is simple: seat belts save lives. We are planning a further publicity campaign for March to emphasise this fact.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest available annual figures for the number of deaths, serious injuries and slight injuries to van drivers and passengers; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of seat belts in reducing injury to van occupants; what is the current seat belt wearing rate for van drivers and passengers; and what percentage of journeys made by van is exempt from the requirement that their occupants must wear seat belts because the vehicle is engaged in local deliveries. [11248]
§ Mr. NorrisSome 53 drivers and 11 passengers were killed in light goods vehicles in 1994. Some 734 drivers and 303 passengers were seriously injured and 4,552 drivers and 1,901 passengers were slightly injured in these vehicles in that year. The proportion of these not wearing seat belts is not known. A survey in October 1995 showed that 65 per cent. of drivers and 56 per cent. of van passengers were wearing belts. We do not know, however, how many of those not wearing belts were carrying out local deliveries and therefore exempt. Clearly, seat belts play a vital role in saving drivers and passengers in vans, as in other vehicles, from death and serious injury.