§ Mr. Stottasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that drivers are being stopped and required to take a breath test only in those cases where the police officer stopping the vehicles has reason to suspect that the driver has been drinking.
§ Mr. MayhewThe evidence available suggests that the police powers to stop vehicles under section 159 of the Road Traffic Act 1972, and their powers to require breath tests of drivers under section 8 of the same Act, are being used properly.
§ Mr. Stottasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange to compile figures of the number of drivers stopped by the police in each county between 24 December 1980 and 2 January and breathalysed, together with the number of positive results and subsequent prosecutions.
§ Mr. MayhewThe information on breath tests is published for calendar years, and the part-year figures requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.