§ M. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table showing, for each of the past three years, the number of cases known to the police of incidents relating to persons who were drunk in charge; in how many of these cases persons were subsequently prosecuted; what was the nature of the penalties imposed; and in how many instances the maximum penalty was imposed.
§ M. MaclayThe following table gives the available information for periods since 1st November, 1956, the date of commencement of Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, which separated the offences of driving or attempting to drive 37W while under the influence of drink or drugs and of being in charge of, but not
38W
A B Driving a motor vehicle while unfit Unfit while in charge of but not driving a motor vehicle Nov. and Dec., 1956 1957 1958 Nov. and Dec.,1956 1957 1958 Alleged offences made known to the police Not available 1,953 2,044 Not available 431 554 Persons proceeded against (a) Not available 1,421 1,512 Not available 304 385 Persons convicted or found guilty 225 1,326 1,431 23 285 351 Penalties (b)— Fine only: Under £20 53 59 42 10 93 102 £20 to £49 117 100 87 11 44 45 £50 to £99 19 10 8 — — 1 £100 and over 1 1 — — — — Fine and caution: Under £20 — — 1 — — — £20 to £49 — 1 — — — — Fine and disqualification (c): Under £20 — 231 258 — 63 100 £20 to £49 — 636 716 — 59 82 £50 to £99 — 75 85 — 7 5 £100 and over — 13 6 — 2 — Imprisonment only: One month or less 26 24 19 2 5 1 Three months or less but over one month 9 8 2 — 2 1 Imprisonment and caution: One month or less — 2 — — — — Imprisonment and disqualification (c): One month or less — 78 108 — 7 9 Three months or less but over one month — 38 44 — 2 3 Six months or less but over three months — 2 10 — — — One year or less but over six months — 1 1 — — — Two years or less but over one year — 1 — — — — Imprisonment and fine(d): One month or less — — 1 — — — Three months or less but over one month — — — — — 1 Imprisonment, fine (d) and disqualification (c): One month or less — 31 19 — — — Three months or less but over one month — 12 16 — — 1 Six months or less but over three months — 1 3 — — — One year or less but over six months — — 1 — — — Otherwise disposed of — 2 4 — 1 — NOTES: (a) In addition in some of the cases made known proceedings were taken for more serious offences and persons were convicted of these. b) Information is not available about the number of cases in which the maximum penalty was imposed. (c) Statistics showing the length of periods of disqualification are not available. (d) Where the sentence includes imprisonment and a fine, information about the amount of the fine is not available. driving, a vehicle while under the influence of drink or drugs: