HC Deb 15 November 1967 vol 754 cc135-7W
112. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the use of breathalyser tests since their institution.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

It is too early for a balanced assessment.

113. Mr. Mawby

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he anticipates will be the cost of breathalyser, blood and urine tests in the first financial year.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

It is too soon to estimate how many such tests there are likely to be.

1964, Information for earlier periods is not immediately available in this form.

114. Sir Richard Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tests have been applied to the official breathalyser apparatus supplied to the police; and within what limits the device has proved to be accurate.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

The approved breath testing device was tested by the Home Office Central Research Establishment, Aldermaston, to establish the reliability of its physical characteristics, and the indications given by the device aganist varying blood alcohol concentration values. Correct readings were obtained in all the 44 cases in which the blood alcohol concentrations were above 80 mg/100 ml. False positive indications were obtained in 8 out of 33 cases in which the concentrations were below this figure, of which one was in the range 50–60, on in the range 60–70, and six in the range 70–80 mg/100 ml.