§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that children are carried safely in cars. [93600]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe surveys of seat belt/child restraint wearing carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on my Department's behalf, show that wearing rates by all passengers in the front are as high as 94 per cent. Since the Department's rear seat belt wearing advertising campaign in the Summer of 1998, which was repeated at Easter 1999, seat belt wearing rates have been climbing and for children in the rear of vehicles now stands at 91 per cent. as at April 1999. The campaign is continuing with a version of the advert presently running in cinemas and on local radio stations. We also promote the use of child restraints in my Department's leaflet "Seat Belts and Child Restraints", copies of which were placed in the Library of the House.