§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will take further measures to tackle the problem of drinking and driving by people who may have a medical alcohol problem.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn 1983 we introduced a scheme covering the high-risk offenders—those disqualified from driving twice within 10 years because the level of alcohol in their bodies was on each occasion 2 ½ times or more above the legal limit, or for twice refusing to supply a specimen for analysis, or for separate disqualifications for each offence. They are required to satisfy the medical branch of the driver and vehicle licensing centre that they do not have a drink problem and are otherwise fit to drive356W before their licence is returned after their statutory three-year period of disqualification. In the light of experience, we now propose moving the threshold for that scheme to the level recommended by the Blennerhassett committee, so that it will include all those who are convicted of driving while 2 ½ times or more over the limit, as well as on the other categories. We propose that offenders should pay all the administrative charges needed to cover the costs of the new scheme.
Our intention is to include these proposals with others which arise from consideration of the North committee's review of road traffic law. We expect to announce the Government's conclusions on North early next year, so that the House will have the opportunity to consider the package as a whole before any legislation is introduced.