HC Deb 24 March 2000 vol 346 c700W
Mr. Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the safety of coach passengers under the age of five years. [116001]

Mr. Hill

Currently minibuses and coaches used to carry more than three children aged between three and 15 on organised trips are required to be equipped with a forward facing seat fitted with a seat belt for each child carried. In addition to this it is planned, following a consultation, to make the fitting of seat belts compulsory in new buses, coaches and minibuses which are not permitted to carry standing passengers.