HC Deb 08 July 1965 vol 715 cc286-7W
27. Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many breathalysers have been tested by the working party on the use of breath-testing equipment; and if he will now introduce legislation to permit their use by the appropriate authorities.

Mr. George Thomas

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport announced in the course of the debate on 18th June on the Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Crosby (Mr. Graham Page), it is the Government's intention that a Bill should be introduced as soon as possible to make it an offence to drive a motor vehicle with more than a prescribed amount of alcohol in the blood. The studies carried out by the working party are among those that will be taken into account in framing this legislation, and it would be premature at present to say what procedures would be appropriate if breath-testing equipment were brought into use, or to give estimates of the cost of doing so.