§ 22. Sir H. Lucas-Toothasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of cases 1706 to the latest convenient date in which drivers have been required to provide a specimen of breath under the Road Safety Act, 1967; and in how many of these cases action was taken because the driver was suspected of having alcohol in his body, because the driver was suspected of having committed a traffic offence, and because an accident had occurred, respectively.
§ Mr. TaverneUp to 31st January, the total number of breath tests required in England and Wales was 13,029. Of these, 4,352 were on suspicion of alcohol in the body; 4,128 on suspicion that the driver had committed a moving traffic offence; and 4,549 after accidents.
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware of the widespread belief that a number of these tests are random tests? Will he give an assurance that no such tests are, in fact, taking place?
§ Mr. TaverneWe are fully satisfied that the police are administering this Act in accordance with the law. It was always made clear to the House that in moving traffic offences there was a random element, but every allegation of improper random testing, when investigated, has been shown to be unsubstantiated.