§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average penalty applied to a person convicted of accidentally killing another whilst in charge of a motor vehicle. [61501]
§ Mr. BoatengThe readily available information relates to the average length of custodial sentences (unsuspended imprisonment and young offender institution) in England and Wales in 1996 for the three offences involving causing death and is as follows:
Offence Average sentence length (months) Causing death by dangerous driving 33.7 Causing death by careless driving under influence of drink or drugs 34.5 Causing death by aggravated vehicle taking 22.6
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were(a) charged with and (b) convicted of dangerous driving in the last year for which figures are available. [60934]
§ Mr. BoatengThe readily available information relates to the number of proceedings and findings of guilt for offences of dangerous driving, which, in England and Wales in 1996, the latest year for which figures are available, were 10,017 and 5,750 respectively.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to the police regarding decisions on whether to prosecute offending motorists or to require them to undertake driver improvement schemes; what percentage of offending motorists(a) were prosecuted and (b) took part in these schemes in (i) Gloucestershire and (ii) the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [61504]
§ Mr. BoatengNone. Decisions on whether to prosecute drivers or offer them a place on a driver improvement scheme are for the police to take in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, as appropriate. The figures requested are not available centrally.