HL Deb 17 January 1989 vol 503 cc106-7

2.46 p.m.

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the results of the recent campaign to stop drinking and driving over the Christmas and New Year holiday period compared with those in previous years.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, it is too early for a full assessment. However, preliminary police figures for England and Wales suggest that a substantial 40 per cent. increase in their enforcement effort during the full holiday period compared with the previous year caught only 4 per cent. more drivers who had been drinking. It is clear, therefore, that more people are becoming aware of the dangers arid that there is a long-term downward trend in the amount of drinking and driving.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I am most grateful to my noble friend for that reply. I welcome the general trend of improvement. While recognising that both the campaigns and the collection of the results were carried out separately in Scotland and in England and Wales, can he indicate whether parts of the United Kingdom were better and others were worse than in previous years, although it may be invidious to point out that some areas start with better records?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, as I said, the original statistics consist of provisional and incomplete figures from police forces in England and Wales. There are wide differences between force areas. The fact that the figures are not yet complete means that comparisons would not be particularly meaningful at this stage.

Figures in respect of Scotland have just come to hand and I can tell my noble friend that the number of drivers tested increased by 80 per cent. and the number of those who failed the test fell by 13 per cent.

Lord Mason of Barnsley

My Lords, can the Minister say whether as part of their campaign on drinking and driving Her Majesty's Government have made representations to the Brewers Society to reduce the cost of non-alcoholic beers and lagers? If they have not done so, the public will never seriously believe in their campaign.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the noble Lord raises an interesting and, I think, most important point. I can say that we welcome the strong support from the private sector, especially the brewers. I am pleased to say that the sales of low and non-alcoholic beers are increasing rapidly. As regards their cost, I shall certainly draw that point to the attention of the brewers.

Lord Dormand of Easington

My Lords, will the Minister say whether the Government have finally decided against random breath testing? Further, is he aware that there is more than one form of such testing and that unless we have some kind of random breath testing the position will remain unsatisfactory?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, calls for random breath testing reflect the welcome hardening of society's attitude towards the drinking driver. The police already have wide powers and they can stop at random. However, they have now said that they would like the law to be changed to allow unfettered discretion to test.

The Earl of Lauderdale

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether any thought has been given to encouraging pubs to run milk bars?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, no; not so far as I know. However, I know that a large number of pubs do sell milk.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, now that the winter holidays are over, can my noble friend and his colleagues also direct their attention to the reckless and inconsiderate driving at other times of the year perpetrated by people who are perfectly sober?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, that was a most interesting question. We shall shortly be publishing our conclusions in response to the North Report on Road Traffic Law, including its proposals for dealing with reckless driving. However, our publicity campaign is aimed at improving driving standards and will, of course, continue.