§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report those studies known to him as to which drags, particularly medicaments, actually do have an adverse effect on driving ability and behaviour.
§ Mrs. ChalkerA general summary of current understanding on the effects of particular drugs on driving behaviour appears in the booklet "Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive", published by the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention. A more detailed guide to research carried out in this field can be found in the report "New research on the role of alcohol and drugs in road accidents", published in 1978 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Copies of both these documents are available in the Library.
I shall write to the hon. Member on the subject of work completed since the OECD report was compiled.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport what sum of money his Department has allocated in each of the past four years and for the current year for research into which drugs have an adverse effect on driving ability and behaviour.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy Department expects to spend £20,000 during the current financial year and £50,000 during 1984–85 on research into the role of drugs in road accidents. No expenditure for this purpose was incurred in previous years.