APPEALS for a commitment to improve safety on school journeys have fallen on deaf ears in all three major political parties.

And safety campaigners accused all three of ducking their responsibility for child safety.

The Northern Echo asked the three main parties to back moves requiring all school journeys to be undertaken on a vehicle fitted with belts.

The proposal, backed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, came as part of the Echo's School Seatbelt Scandal campaign, launched last year after a survey revealed thousands of children in the region travelled on school buses where belts were not fitted.

A legal loophole means that while coaches used on school runs must be fitted with belts, the law does not apply to buses.

Transport minister Lord Whitty, responsible for vehicle standards, said regulations coming into force this year meant all new coaches must be fitted with belts.

He said: "We will try to ensure there are no loopholes. As with all regulations, we will want to make sure that they can be properly enforced."

But Lord Whitty failed to address the fact that buses - as opposed to coaches - without belts can be used on the school run.

Tory shadow transport minister Bernard Jenkin said they would give the responsibility for school transport to the schools themselves and it would be up to parents to decide whether to insist on seatbelts.

He said: "If there is clear evidence that seatbelts in school buses will save lives then we will not hesitate to act."

Lib Dem environment spokesman Don Foster said: "We are committed to better safety on school buses but we would need to consult with bus operators to ensure we proceed in the most effective manner."

Pat Harris, of campaign group Belt Up School Kids (BUSK), said the responses showed a lack of commitment to child safety.

She said: "Every year 2,500 children are injured on coaches and many of those injuries are because there is not a seatbelt or it is not being worn.

"Any government that does not commit themselves to making sure children are secure with a properly anchored seatbelts is shirking its responsibility."

A RoSPA spokesman said they would like to see seatbelts fitted on every vehicle, where feasible, and consideration to making the use of belts compulsory, where fitted.

He said: "We think that will have a positive effect in terms of safety."