From yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions reported in Hansard:
parliament.the-stationery-parliament.the-stationery-Open ↗
office.co.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/cm040331/debtext/40331-
03.htm#40331-03_wqn5
Q5. [164520] Mr. Eric Martlew (Carlisle) (Lab): My right
hon. Friend will be aware that I have introduced a
private Member's Bill that will make it compulsory for
child cyclists to wear helmets. Is he aware that, in a
recent opinion poll, more than 80 per cent. of those
polled agreed with the aims of my Bill? Is he also
aware that my Bill is supported by 200 hon. Members on
both sides of the House, including some Ministers? So
will the Government give serious consideration to
supporting my Bill?
The Prime Minister: We will give serious consideration to
it. The issue that my hon. Friend raises is a high priority
for hon. Members and the Government. As he will know, for
children, our target is to reduce deaths and serious
injuries by 50 per cent. by 2010. By 2002, we had already
reduced deaths and serious injuries by 33 per cent.-so a
large number of children have been saved from death or
serious injury. Sometimes when we are talking about speed
humps, speed limits, speed cameras and so on, we forget
that, although those things can be aggravating for the
motorist from time to time, sometimes they have a real point
in relation to protecting our young people and, indeed,
others. So we will certainly give careful consideration to
his Bill, and if we can support it, I am sure that we will.
Tony