§ Mr. STRANGERasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the unequal sentences passed on those convicted of being drunk whilst in charge of motor cars; and whether he is prepared to take the necessary legislative steps to ensure that, in case of conviction for this offence, the driving licence held by the offender shall be automatically withdrawn?
Mr. HENDERSONI am aware that the sentences passed for this offence vary greatly. This is inevitable if due regard is paid to the varying circumstances of the individual cases, and while I agree that the stringent exercise of existing powers in serious cases is very desirable, I should not be in favour of making the withdrawal of an offender's licence a necessary consequence of a conviction in every case.