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2.2 Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the possible introduction of compulsory rear seat belt legislation:
Did the Minister or the former Home Affairs Committee approve in principle the introduction of compulsory rear seatbelt legislation and, if so, on what date was the decision made and what action, if any, was taken?
Senator W. Kinnard (The Minister for Home Affairs):
The old Defence Committee reviewed seatbelt legislation on several occasions between February 1994 and April 1999. On 3rd November 2005 the then Home Affairs Committee, with reference to appropriate safe forms of child restraint in vehicles for children over 3 years, noted European directives and agreed in principle that a review should be undertaken concerning current legislation governing the wearing of seatbelts and to consider amending the then current Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seatbelts by Children) (Jersey) Order 1998 with a view to incorporating changes from the European directive. At that time there was no decision on introducing compulsory wearing of rear seatbelts by the Home Affairs Committee.
- The Connétable of St. Helier :
Could the Minister advise us whether that view of the former Committee was conveyed to the then Public Services Department with any recommendations that D.V.S. (Driver and Vehicle Standards Department) should carry out the appropriate review?
Senator W. Kinnard:
I can say that the Home Affairs responsibility for seatbelt legislation was transferred to Transport and Technical Services (T.T.S.) in May 2006 and the legislation, I believe, is now included in T.T.S.'s 2007 Business Plan. I understand that a report and recommendations have now been completed and approved by T.T.S.'s management for their Minister's consideration.
- The Connétable of St. Helier :
I thank the Minister for her helpful remarks but that still means that a delay of nearly 2 years has taken place since the transfer of responsibility from her department to that of the Transport and Technical Services Minister. Does she think it is satisfactory that the Island has waited for 2 years before this matter has been properly progressed?
Senator W. Kinnard: No, Sir.