HC Deb 09 November 1967 vol 753 cc152-3W
45. Mr. Mawby

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions his office have issued to chief constables regarding the taking of breathalyser tests.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I have no authority to issue instructions to chief constables. I have, however, issued a circular to them which describes the provisions of the Road Safety Act, 1967.

46. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department out of the 823 persons tested by breathalyser by the police in the Metropolitan area up to 29th October, how many showed positive results for alcohol on the breathalyser; how many at the police station proved positive by blood or urine tests; how many were charged under e Road Safety Act, 1967; and how many were charged for any other offences.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

The roadside breath tests indicated that 299 of these persons had a blood alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit. The other information that the hon. Member asks for could not be obtained without laborious inquiries, and I must ask him to wait for further information until the special statistical returns for which I have asked begin to be collated towards the end of the year. I can, however, say now that of the specimens of blood and urine analysed at the Metropolitan police laboratory, about 70 per cent. provide acceptable evidence of alcohol concentrations above the prescribed limit.

Mr. John Hall

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him about the circular sent to chief constables which relates to the possibiilty of making random breath tests on drivers under circumstances not specifically provided for in the Road Safety Act.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

The Home Office received ten letters, seven of them critical, inspired by newspaper reports last August about a Home Office circular to chief constables which described the provisions of the Road Safety Act, 1967. The circular, a copy of which was put in the Library, did not suggest the use of breath tests in circumstances other than those the Act provides for.