§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the decision to review 742 drink-driving convictions in Greater Manchester after the use there of alcohol-impregnated swabs in taking blood tests and the possible review of 1,117 further cases.
§ Mr. John PattenBetween March 1987 and December 1988, police stations in the Greater Manchester police area were issued with blood sampling kits in which the alcohol-free swabs had been replaced by the stores department of the force with swabs acquired from an independent source. It was later found that these locally substituted swabs contained a solution with a very small percentage of alcohol. The blood analysis results in a number of these cases may therefore have been affected. At present, there are known to be a total of 742 cases in which prosecution was based on the results of the blood sample; together with a total of 729 cases in which prosecution was based solely on breath test evidence. In addition, there are a further 388 cases where it is not yet possible to say into which category they fall.
I am arranging to review as quickly as possible the convictions in all those cases in which prosecution was based on the results of the blood sample, and I will also consider representations from individuals who believe that they were wrongly convicted. Each case will be considered on its merits.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his estimates of the costs to public funds of(a) reviewing 742 drink-driving convictions after use by Greater Manchester police of alcohol-impregnated swabs in taking blood tests and (b) the possible review of 1,117 further cases arising from the mistake.
§ Mr. John PattenOur present estimate is that the cost to the Home Office is likely to be of the order of £36,000. This figure may be subject to revision when fuller details of the cases are available.