§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce measures which oblige magistrates to impose more stringent sentences for drink-driving offences.
§ Mr. MellorCourts convicting defendants of such offences must disqualify them from driving for at least a year and endorse their licences unless their are special reasons, relating to the offence, for not doing so. They may in addition impose a fine of up to £2,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, or both; we are satisfied that this element of the penalty should, as with other offences, remain within the court's discretion.