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Written Answers
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igration officers. As they had lost their travel and inity documents in action, arrangements were made by the Hong Kong Government Office in London for replacement documents to be issued immediately to enable those who wished to do so to return to Hong Kong with the minimum of delay.
Ten more Hong Kong seamen arrived at Southampton on board the QE2. They were interviewed by immigration officers before the ship berthed. Five were given leave to enter the country. Five were returned to Hong Kong at their request.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the detention by immigration officers of Hong ! Kong seamen who had served in the South Atlantic.
Mr. Raison: We received one letter from a member of the public through a right hon. Member.
Jurors
Mr. Alexander W. Lyon asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of interference with jurors have come to the attention of the police in the past three years; at which courts; and whether the juror in each case was found to have previous convictions.
Mr. Mayhew: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate
cost.
Direct Broadcasting by Satellite (Report)
Mr. John H. Osborn asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of the advisory panel on technical transmission standards for direct broadcasting by satellite; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Whitelaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry and I have today published the advisory panel's report. We are most grateful to Sir Antony Part and his two colleagues Professor Alan Day and Professor Roy Griffiths together with their technical assessor Mr. Bernard Rogers for completing such a complex task in so short a time. The Government will now be studying the panel's recommendations as a matter of urgency and hope to be able to announce their conclusions very shortly.
Charity Commissioners
Mr. Les Huckfield asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about his powers in relation to the Charity Commissioners following correspondence from the hon. Member for Nuneaton.
Mr. Raison: My right hon. Friend's powers under the Charities Act 1960 consist of appointing the com- missioners and presenting their annual report to Parliament.
TRANSPORT
Seat Belts (Exemptions)
Mr. Skeet asked the Secretary of State for Transport what factors led him to exempt driving examiners from wearing seat belts; and which of these factors do not apply in the case of driving instructors.
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Mrs. Chalker: Driving examiners will be exempt from compulsory wearing only when this would endanger themselves or others. Examiners must delay any intervention until the last possible moment because such intervention will result in a test being failed. This consideration does not apply to instructors.
Mr. Skeet asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he proposes that drivers should be exempt from wearing a seat belt while reversing.
Mrs. Chalker: I have no option in this matter. The Transport Act 1981 requires the regulations on compulsory seat belt wearing to include such an exemption.
Mr. Skeet asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce regulations to exempt drivers travelling under 10 mph from wearing a seat belt.
Mrs. Chalker: No. I consider that such an exemption would be unjustified and undesirable. Occupants of vehicles travelling below 10 mph hould not be immune from injury, particularly when in collision with another moving vehicle.
Mr. Skeet: asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) why he proposes that taxi drivers should be exempt from wearing a seat belt while hiring passengers;
(2) if he will introduce regulations to exempt taxi drivers from wearing seat belts at all times.
Mrs. Chalker: A limited exemption from compulsory wearing has been provided for taxi drivers solely because of their vulnerability to attack. I see no grounds for a wider exemption.
Motor Cars (Headrests)
Mr. Skeet: asked the Secretary of State for Transport what regulation applies to fitting of headrests in motor
cars.
Mrs. Chalker: There are no requirements governing the fitting of headrests or head restraints to motor vehicles in this country.
Technical standards applicable to head restraints exist in the form of a Community Directive and a corresponding UN EEC regulation No. 25; the United Kingdom recognises and issues approvals to both.
Many head restraints provided by vehicle manufac- turers are approved to one or other of these standards, whereas headrests by implication and trade description are not approvable safety devices.
Traffic Signs
Mr. Penhaligon asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider extending the list of those consulted formally on the criteria for the siting of road traffic signs, as set out in the reply of 27 October, Official Report, c. 458-9, to include road users and road safety organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Mrs. Chalker: The organisations listed in my reply of 27 October-[Vol. 29, c. 458-9]—are those consulted on the more technical aspects of traffic signing standards and criteria.
On more general issues concerning traffic signs we consult a wider range of interests, including road users and safety organisations such as ROSPA, whenever appropriate.
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