58. Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Transport whether his Department has investigated the question 2139 of the lowest concentration of alcohol in the blood which may be incompatible with the safe control of a motor vehicle; and with what result?
§ Mr. BurginNo, Sir. The Medical Research Council and the British Medical Association investigated the relationship of alcohol to road accidents in 1935, at the request of my predecessor, but they did not deal with this aspect of the question.
Mr. AdamsIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's answer which I do not regard as satisfactory, will he consider some information upon this subject if I submit it in due course?
Viscountess AstorCan the Minister deny that the British Medical Association reported to his predecessor that there was serious objection to the consumption of alcohol, even in the smallest amount, by anyone who is driving? Can he deny that? He cannot. May we not have an answer to the question?
§ Mr. BurginI trust that the Noble Lady will be good enough to put the question on the Paper.
§ Mr. BurginI cannot on this occasion go into matters arising out of a question which was put to my predecessor and which concerns the introduction of a new principle.
Viscountess AstorIs it not the duty of the Minister, seeing the increase in the number of accidents, to look into it and see what the British Medical Association said, instead of giving an answer like that?
§ Mr. BurginI am quite sure that no medical association ever suggested a compulsory blood test, and I am not going to introduce it.