To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) male and (b) female cyclists aged (i) under 16 years and (ii) 16 years and over who wore helmets while cycling in each of the last 10 years. (144301)

Surveys of cycle helmet wearing rates have been carried out for the Department in 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2006. The findings from surveys from 1994 to 2004 are shown in the table. This shows that in 2004 cycle helmets were worn by:

10.8 per cent. of male cyclists under 16

28.7 per cent. of male cyclists 16 years and over

26.3 per cent. of female cyclists under 16

29.7 per cent. of female cyclists 16 years and over

The 2006 survey of cycle helmet wearing rates will be published in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on encouraging cyclists to wear helmets in each of the last 10 years. (144302)

Most spending on cycle safety in England is undertaken by local highway authorities. It includes revenue spending on cycle training, other educational initiatives and local cycle safety publicity. Revenue spending on road safety is not recorded centrally.

The Department for Transport produces cycle safety publicity and resources at national level, which may include the promotion of helmet wearing. Figures for annual spending are only available as far back as 2002-03. Our road safety challenge grant scheme, which has been running since 2002-03, has funded a number of projects that are wholly or partly to improve cycle safety and may also include the promotion of helmet wearing. Figures for spending on cycle safety projects under previous grant schemes are not available.