HL Deb 18 July 1989 vol 510 cc749-51

3 Clause 5, page 10, line 9, after 'disability)'. insert— '(a) after the word "If" there shall be inserted the words "the prescribed circumstances obtain in relation to a person who is an applicant for, or the holder of, a licence or if', and (b)'.

4 Page 10, line 17, at end insert— '( ) In section 94(9) of the 1988 Act (payment of doctor's fees), for the words "The Secretary of State must" there shall be substituted the words "Except where the requirement is made in the circumstances prescribed for the purpose of subsection (5) above, it shall be for the Secretary of State (and not for any other person) to".'.

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 3 and 4 en bloc.

The purpose of the amendments is to extend the scope of the high risk offenders scheme which deals with drivers whose drinking habits present a serious threat to road safety. At present the high risk offenders scheme covers offenders disqualified from driving twice within 10 years because the level of alcohol in their bodies was on each occasion two and half times or more above the legal limit, or for twice refusing to supply a specimen for analysis, or for separate disqualifications for each offence. They are required to satisfy the medical branch of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre that they do not have a drink problem and are otherwise fit to drive before their licences are returned after the period of disqualification.

My right honourable friend the Lord President announced in November 1988 our intention to move the threshold for the high risk offenders scheme to the level recommended by the Blennerhassett Committee on Drinking and Driving in 1976.

The first amendment will enable the Secretary of State to prescribe in regulations the circumstances in which the high risk offenders scheme will apply to drivers seeking to obtain a new licence after a period of disqualification for a drink-drive offence. Regulations will be brought forward in due course. The intention is that the extended scheme will cover the following categories: first, those disqualified once from driving while two and half times or more over the legal limit; secondly, those disqualified twice within a 10-year period for drink-drive offences and, thirdly, those disqualified for failing without reasonable cause to supply a specimen for analysis.

The second amendment removes the requirement for the Secretary of State to meet the cost of medical examinations in those prescribed circumstances.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 3 and 4 en bloc.—(Lord Brabazon of Tara).

Lord Underhill

My Lords, the Minister will no doubt have noticed that during the consideration of the amendments in Standing Commit tee in another place my honourable friend Mrs. Joan Ruddock said that the high risk scheme covered only a few of the people involved in drink-drive accidents. Although she supported the amendment she thought that a great deal more counselling help should be given. I was pleased to note that, in commenting on Mrs. Ruddock's remarks, the Minister's ministerial colleague, Mr. Peter Bottomley, Minister for Roads and Traffic, agreed that the main thrust should be education and rehabilitation rather than the law. Can the Minister say when steps will be taken to follow up Mr. Bottomley's statement, or whether that will be covered during the consideration of certain proposals in the North Report?

Lord Brougham and Vaux

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for introducing the amendments. Any recommendation of the Blennerhassett Report that passes into law is to be welcomed.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords for their reception of the amendments. As my honourable friend has said, education and rehabilitation are important factors. Indeed, the department's main publicity campaign in relation to driving concerns drink driving. We take the matter very seriously. In making the regulations we shall consult the motoring associations, the police, the courts etc. This was one of the points which we mentioned in our response to the North Report, and this represents a good opportunity to bring the measures into effect.

On Question, Motion agreed to.