Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

Lord Rosser Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2015 Grand Committee

[Viscount Simon (Lab)]

My Lords, the Minister in his opening remarks has touched considerably on what I wanted to ask him. He mentioned road safety groups. I simply want to ask whether those groups include representatives from St John Ambulance and other charitable organisations. Will they covered by these regulations?

[Lord Rosser (Lab)]

I thank the Minister for explaining the purpose of and reasoning behind this order, which we support. As the noble Lord said, the regulations exempt persons riding in an ambulance from the requirement to wear a seat belt while providing emergency medical attention or treatment to a patient for whom such treatment cannot be delayed. Indeed, one assumes that in reality ambulance personnel have been ignoring the existing regulation in these circumstances since, I am sure, they put the welfare and indeed the survival of their patients ahead of abiding by seat belt regulations—and ahead of their own personal safety. Not being in a position where seat belts can be worn places the safety of ambulance personnel in jeopardy if the ambulance itself is involved in a road accident or incident either directly or indirectly. I assume that the purpose of the order is to regularise a situation that I imagine has existed on almost a daily basis.

I would be grateful if the Minister could confirm—I am sure that the answer will be “yes”, given what is set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the regulations—that this measure has also received the support of the trade unions which represent ambulance personnel.

Perhaps I may also take what is to an extent a liberty by raising another point. I hasten to say that I do not expect the Minister to respond to it today since I accept that, while it relates to an aspect of wearing seat belts, it is not one that even I could argue is covered by these regulations. It would be helpful if the Minister could let me know in due course either what decision the Government have made, or when they expect to make a decision, following a consultation in 2011 on the implementation and method of enforcement of the 2003 EU directive requiring children aged three and up to 14 travelling in a coach to wear seat belts. As I say, I appreciate that I am taking a bit of a liberty in raising this issue now, but if the Minister is subsequently able to give me the answer, I shall be extremely grateful to him. Again, we support the order before the Committee.

[Lord Popat]

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, for supporting the order. The noble Viscount, Lord Simon, asked a question about St John Ambulance. These regulations apply the definition of “motor ambulance” in Regulation 3(2) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulation 1986. A motor ambulance is defined as a purpose-built motor vehicle which is specifically constructed and equipped for medical purposes. I am pleased to say that that applies to St John Ambulance.

The noble Lord, Lord Rosser, asked what paramedics do at the moment when they need to provide treatment. Obviously, they do an excellent job. Given the imperative for paramedics to preserve life and give treatment to the patient in the ambulance, we understand that they will carry out treatment using their judgment and will remove their seat belt if necessary. I am glad they have that exemption now so that whatever work they do will be legal.

The noble Lord, Lord Rosser, also raised the outstanding issue of buses and coaches having seat belts for children under 14. This legislation took a long time to come here because we had to get permission from the European Union. Legislation requiring that seat belts are worn by children under 14 is being prepared by the Department for Transport and will be presented to the House for consideration when it is finalised and cleared.

I hope that I have answered all the questions. I will certainly look at Hansard and, if I have left anything out, I will be very happy to write to noble Lords.

[Lord Rosser]

I raised a question that relates to the order. It was about whether trade unions representing ambulance personnel supported the change. I am sure they did, but perhaps the Minister can confirm that.

[Lord Popat]

There was widespread consultation on this—a 12-week consultation about changes to specific exemptions, which closed in February 2103. A wide range of stakeholders responded, including representatives from the ambulance service and road safety groups. There was also widespread support for the proposal across all stakeholder groups. I guess that “all stakeholders groups” would include the CBI and the TUC.

I hope that I have addressed all the questions. As I said earlier, I will be very happy to look at Hansard and, if I have left anything out, I will respond.