§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were breathalysed in the Christmas period in each of the past five years; how many of those tests were positive; and if he will make a statement. [11033]
§ Mr. MacleanFigures collected by the Home Office do not enable the Christmas and new year period to be separately identified. The Association of Chief Police Officers, however, has collected figures on the number of positive breath tests during this period in each of the last five years, with the total number of screening breath tests required for 1992 to 1994. They are:
Breath tests over the Christmas and new year period, England and Wales 1992–93 to 1996–97 Number of breath tests Number positive 1992–93 59,069 4,248 1993–94 65,522 4,470 1994–95 78,009 4,706 1995–96 n/a 4,411 1996–97 n/a 15,209 1 Provisional. n/a = not available. The Home Office does, however, collect and publish figures for the month of December, and they are given in the table. Figures for 1996 are not yet available, but will be published in the spring. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the statistical bulletin when it is published.
Breath tests during December, England and Wales 1992 to 1995 Number of breath tests Number positive/refused Percentage positive/refused 1992 110,100 8,500 8 1993 105,800 8,600 8 1994 129,100 8,700 7 1995 141,400 8,900 6