§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his working party on methods of determining blood alcohol levels has made, with particular reference to breath-testing devices; and if he will make a statement on his policy regarding legislation to make it an offence to drive with more than a specified concentration of alcohol in the blood.
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§ Sir F. SoskiceThe Home Office working party to which the hon. Member refers is considering the problems that would be involved in the introduction of breath testing equipment for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act, 1962, and is not concerned with the comparison of different methods of determining alcohol concentration in the blood. I hope to receive a report from the working party shortly.
As part of the Government's general review of the law relating to drink and driving I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport the recommendation of the Council of the British Medical Association that it should be made an offence for a person having a concentration of 80 mgs. alcohol or more per 100 mls. blood to drive or attempt to drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle on a public highway but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.