HC Deb 04 November 1999 vol 337 cc301-2W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each year since 1991 what percentage of disqualifications for(a) causing death by dangerous driving and (b) dangerous driving has been accompanied by (i) an ordinary length retest and (ii) an extended retest. [96638]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The available information relates to the percentage of disqualifications for offences of causing death by dangerous driving (including causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs, causing death by aggravated vehicle taking and causing bodily harm by furious driving) and dangerous driving, which resulted in a requirement to undertake a driving test in England and Wales and is given in the table:

Percentage of disqualifications for causing death by dangerous driving etc. and dangerous driving that resulted in a driving test requirement, England and Wales
Percentage
Year Causing death by dangerous driving etc. Dangerous driving
1991 3 1
1992 4 4
1993 17 28
1994 35 37
1995 23 40
1996 4 44
1997 34 65

No information is available centrally on the distinction between re-tests and extended re-tests. Information for 1998 is not yet available.

Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the latest year for which data are available how many driving disqualifications have been imposed; and how many people have been convicted of driving while disqualified. [96634]

Mr. Charles Clarke

161,267 disqualifications were imposed for motoring offences in England and Wales during 1997, and in addition, 31,120 persons were disqualified under the penalty points system.

During the same period, there were 42,452 convictions for driving while disqualified.

Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he had made of the number of people who drive while disqualified. [96635]

Mr. Charles Clarke

It is calculated from the figures of disqualifications imposed each year that some 370,000 drivers may be disqualified in England and Wales at any one time. A study conducted in 1991 showed that some 27 per cent. of drivers admitted to driving while disqualified, so on that basis, over 90,000 drivers may be driving while disqualified.