I have the following from Dr Andrew Murrison, Shadow health Minister
"Thank you for your letter in which you bring Eric Martlew's private members bill to my attention.
Firstly I can reassure you that as a private members bill it stands very little chance of reaching
the statute books. Secondly, being a restrictive measure, I and many of my colleagues would look
very closely at it as there would have to be good evidence to support the burden it imposes.
Children must be encouraged to engage in healthy pursuits expecially given the poor level of
fiteness our young people currently have. I would cite the alarming upsurge in obesity as evidence
of this. Indeed, I suspect that mortality and morbity from unhealthy lifestyles among our young
exceed injury or death attributable to the non wearing of a safety helmet.
In short, it would be for the author of the bill to demonstrate a clear and pressing need for the
compulsory wearing of safety helmets before I would be prepared to support him."
Although carefully worded to avoid saying "I won't support it" I feel reasonably reassured.
Peter