Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to amend regulations related to school bus services to prevent unrestrained passenger travel on motorways.
The Government follows European standards for buses. These standards are kept under constant review by an international group of experts, and the UK is an active participant in that process.
Since 1 October 2001, it has been a requirement that seat belts must be installed in forward- and rear-facing seats in all new buses, coaches and minibuses. The only exemption from this requirement is for buses that are designed for urban use with standing passengers. This exemption is permitted because these buses are typically used for journeys that are short both in duration and distance, undertaken at moderate speeds and on urban routes.