HC Deb 28 March 1968 vol 761 c1702
14. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will now take to ensure that blood tests carried out on drivers suspected of having an excess of alcohol in the blood are reliable and accurate; and if he will order an inquiry.

Mr. Taverne

I am satisfied that the procedures at the forensic science laboratories for the determination of blood alcohol levels are reliable and accurate.

Mr. Osborn

I thank the hon. and learned Gentleman for that reply. Now that the procedure has been altered, will he publish it and distribute it to police stations so that motorists know their position?

Mr. Taverne

I think that the procedure which is followed on the test is well known and is public. I am not sure what the hon. Gentleman has in mind with regard to the procedure at the forensic laboratories. I am sure that he has not in mind a detailed description of the gas chromatography method.