§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General what, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, is the number of cases where persons who have been charged with driving a car while unfit through drink and failing to give breath and laboratory specimens have had the case withdrawn by the Metropolitan Police after refusing to reappear on expiration of the bail period, so far as the Marlborough Street Court is concerned and the Metropolitan Police area of magistrates' courts are concerned, respectively; and whether he will give details of such cases.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere would be considerable and unjustified expenditure involved in obtaining this information.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General how many persons appeared at Marlborough Street Magistrates' Court on 31st August, 1971, charged with driving a car while unfit through drink and failing to give breath and laboratory specimens; what was the result of these prosecutions in each stated case; and why the cases were not withdrawn, as was the case with Mr. Oleg Lyalin and Mr. Paul Raymond.
§ The Attorney-GeneralOne defendant appeared at Marlborough Street Court on 31st August, 1971, charged. with an offence of that nature. He pleaded guilty, was fined £15 and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. This case was not withdrawn because there were no grounds for doing so. It is incorrect to state that the case against Mr. Paul Raymond with withdrawn. The prosecution offered no evidence and the case was dismissed.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General whether he will give for the month of October, 1971, the number of 259W cases of drink and driving charges which were commenced at the South-Western Court which were not proceeded with or withdrawn by the police where the evidence which was available at the commencement of the proceedings had not altered in any way by the time of the commencement of the court proceedings.
The Attorney-General: No such cases were withdrawn. In one case, that of Mr. Raymond, the prosecution offered no evidence for the reasons I have explained to the hon. Member.—[Vol. 825. c. 95.]