§ Sir F. Medlicottasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted of being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle in England and Wales during each of the years from 1947 to 1956, inclusive, giving in respect for each year the total number of vehicles on the roads.
§ Mr. R. A. Butler:The table below shows the number of convictions in the magistrates' courts in England and Wales for the offences of driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drink or drugs and the number of mechanically propelled road vehicle licences current in England and Wales in the September quarter for each of the years 1947 to 1955, inclusive, Figures for 1956 are not yet available.
— Convictions Vehicles 1947 1,656 3,241,000 1948 1,423 3,444,000 1949 1,682 3,802,000 1950 2,261 4,180,000 1951 2,652 4,264,000 1952 2,349 4,524,000 1953 2,490 4,878,000 1954 2,806 5,338,000 1955 3,068 5,936,000 Figures for convictions on indictment are not available for the whole period. There were 243 such convictions in 1955.