SEAT BELTS IN BUSES

That this House notes that approximately 4,000 injuries occur each year to seated bus and coach passengers and that the use of seatbelts would significantly reduce this number; notes the particular threat to children from the lack of seatbelts in school buses; deplores the absence of legislation that requires the compulsory fitting of seatbelts to all seats in all minibuses and coaches; recognises that this is an area of EC competence; welcomes the Government's initiative in pressing the Commission of the European Community to propose the appropriate legislation; regrets the reluctance of the Commission to do so; urges the Government to press the Commission even more vigorously; and calls upon local education authorities to require all buses used by their schools to have seatbelts fitted.