§ 21. Mr. Croninasked the Minister of Transport what changes in policy towards breathalysers he plans following the Road Research Laboratory Report No. 6, which indicates that blood alcohol levels between 100 and 119 milligrams/ 100 millilitres multiply the risk of an accident by five and a half and blood alcohol levels above 160 milligrams/100 millilitres multiply the risk by 21.
§ Mr. MulleyThis information was available when the existing legislation was enacted and I have no plans to propose any changes at present.
§ Mr. CroninHas not the time come to consider varying the penalty upon conviction in these cases in accordance with the amount of alcohol found in the convicted person's blood? Is it not obviously 1040 unfair that a person who has mildly overindulged and is in full charge of his faculties should have the same penalty imposed upon him as a person who is grossly and incapably drunk?
§ Mr. MulleyThe courts already have power to vary the penalty according to the circumstances of the case. It is a matter of argument whether there should be certain disqualification in every case of conviction. When this House decided that this should be so, it became one of the important factors in making the Act such a great success.