Drink-driving (Hansard, 6 July 1988)

§ Dr. Moonie
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to reduce the size of the problem drinking driver population;
(2) what evaluation and research into the high-risk drink-driving offender scheme has been undertaken or is planned by his Department.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
Following a request from the ministerial group on alcohol misuse we are considering how to extend the scope of the high-risk offenders scheme. Under the present scheme, some categories of drink-driving offenders have to satisfy the Secretary of State that they no longer have a drink problem and are otherwise fit to drive before restoration of their driving licence.

§ Dr. Moonie
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of convicted drinking and driving offenders are estimated to be clinically definable as problem drinkers; and what measures are used to determine this.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
This information is not available.

§ Dr. Moonie
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific medical or other criteria are used by the medical advisers to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre to refuse restoration of a driving licence to drink-driving offenders classified as high-risk offenders.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
Applicants undergo a structured clinical assessment and examination, including an evaluation of their history of alcohol abuse. In addition, details are obtained about alcohol withdrawal fits in the past two years and attitude to attendance at alcohol treatment units. Their blood alcohol level at the time of the examination is assessed. A blood sample is taken at the examination and used to evaluate the levels of gamma GT, AST, MCV, serum B12 and folate.
These criteria are based on the recommendations of informed medical opinion.

§ Dr. Moonie
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of high-risk offenders were refused restoration of their driving licence by the medical advisers of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre in the most recent three years for which figures are available.
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involved over the last five years. It is not possible to break down the staff numbers further by function. Other divisions also have work related to road safety.
About half the Department's staff in the regional office are currently engaged on the national road construction and maintenance programme. Enhancement of road safety is one of the programme's prime aims.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
The only figures available are those from a recent small sample exercise. These suggest that 5 per cent. of those who apply for restoration are refused on medical grounds. A further 10 per cent. are refused because they fail to co-operate with medical inquiries.

§ Dr. Moonie
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of high-risk drink-driving offenders do not request restoration of their licence at the end of their period of driving ban.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
It is estimated that 35 to 40 per cent. do not apply for the restoration of their licence.

§ Dr. Moonie
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who are the medical examiners employed to administer the high-risk drink-driving offender scheme; and how they are selected.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
Specialists in occupational medicine selected by the Department of Transport.