§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether consideration has now been given to the conclusions reached by the Association of Police Surgeons of Great Britain at their recent annual conference in so far as they deal with the proposed introduction of blood tests and breathalyser tests for motorists; and whether it is proposed to take any action as a result of these representations, and if so of what nature.]
§ LORD CHESHAMYes, my Lords. Careful consideration has been given to the representations made by the Association of Police Surgeons of Great Britain. Her Majesty's Government are, however, satisfied that all the points made by the Association are ones that they had already taken fully into account when framing their proposals before presenting them to your Lordships' House. The points were also all discussed during the 961 debates on the Second Reading and Committee stage of the Road Traffic Bill. Her Majesty's Government do not therefore think it necessary to take any further action as a result of these representations.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his Answer, is it not a fact that the Bill was drafted, and most of the discussions took place, before the views of the police surgeons became known? In view of the fact that police surgeons have more practical experience than anyone else of dealing with, and testing, drunken drivers, why have Her Majesty's Government closed their minds to the police surgeons' recommendations?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government have not closed their minds to these representations. When my noble friend comes to look at my original Answer in Hansard he will see that I said Her Majesty's Government had already thought of the points concerned. Therefore the actual timing of their arrival from the police surgeons does not preclude the fact that they had already been considered.