HC Deb 05 April 1967 vol 744 cc240-1
42. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps in the interests of road safety to inform drivers of all types of motoring vehicles that a person may be taken as unfit to drive if his ability to drive had been impaired through drink or drugs.

Mr. Ross

I believe that drivers generally are aware that by law a person is unfit to drive if his ability to drive properly is for the time being impaired by drink or drugs.

Mr. Rankin

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that in a recent case a person paid to administer the law of Scotland pleaded ignorance of its implications and was allowed free on that plea? Is not that rather a disturbing situation? How can he apply the law fairly when he himself has stated publicly that he does not understand it?

Mr. Ross

It would be quite wrong of me to comment on that case; but I can tell my hon. Friend that the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk have promised a report to me on it in the near future.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member ought not to criticise Her Majesty's judges, except by means of a Motion on the Order Paper.

Later—

Mr. Rankin

Further to the point of order which I raised a little while ago, Mr. Speaker, I should like your guidance. If I criticised anyone in my supplementary question, it was not a judge but a citizen of Scotland who appeared before the court not as a judge but as a citizen.

Mr. Speaker

If that was so, I unreservedly apologise to the hon. Gentleman. I was simply stating what is a classic rule of the House. I unreservedly withdraw what I said to the hon. Gentleman.