§ Jane GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance his Department and its predecessor Departments have given to the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust in each of the last five years; upon what conditions such assistance was given; and if he will make a statement. [164164]
§ Mr. JamiesonWe work closely with the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust (BHIT), including the provision of grant aid for initiatives which contribute to the Government's cycling objectives. I helped launch the BHIT's "Guidelines for Setting up Community Based Bicycle Helmet Programmes" in May 2002. They are the result of three years work funded by a joint package with the Department of Health of £100,000. BHIT also received funding to produce a similar School Based set of Guidelines, which were sent to all schools in July 2003.
1322WThe BHIT has received further funding from the Department of Health for three years. The DoH gave BHIT £32,000 in 2002–03, £25,000 in 2003–04, and will be giving £20,000 in 2004–05 for their Helmet Your Head project. The project was funded as part of the DoH's target for the Health Service to contribute to accident prevention and especially injury reduction among children.
We have given grant aid to other organisations who are pursuing initiatives which support the aims of our road safety strategy, such as RoSPA, for their "Guidelines for Child Cycle Training" and the CTC for their "Adult Cycle Training Schemes Guidelines".