To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in her Department's investigation into the wearing of cycle helmets by children. (180934)

The Department is developing a new research project looking at a range of road safety and cycling issues. This will examine the following topics:

Road user safety and cycling data;

Cycling infrastructure;

Attitudes and behaviours; and

Bicycle helmets.

A draft specification has been prepared and we are discussing this with stakeholders. A meeting was held with cycling groups on 14 December, and a meeting with others including the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust is scheduled for 25 January. Once these meetings are completed, the Department intends to commission the research.

The Department also intends to publish the 2006 cycle helmet wearing survey shortly.