§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on which date it was decided that persistent misuse of drugs was a relevant disability in respect of revocation of driving licences under section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1998. [2417]
§ Mr. JamiesonParliament decided that persistent misuse of drugs should be included in section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 as a relevant disability when the draft legislation was approved by the House of Lords on 12 July 1996 and the House of Commons on 17 July 1996. The change took effect from 1 January 1997.
§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what research the DVLA based its decision to revoke driving licences on the grounds of persistent drug misuse in respect of(a) alcohol, (b) heroin, (c) medicinal drugs, (d) cannabis and (e) ecstasy. [2597]
§ Mr. JamiesonIn relation to alcohol and drug misuse, the medical standards for fitness to drive are based on the minimum health standards laid down in the Second EC Directive on driving licences and the expert advice of the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Misuse and Driving. The Panel keeps abreast of medical and pharmacological research at a domestic and international level.
§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many driving licence applications were(a) refused and (b) withdrawn, on the grounds of misuse of drugs in each of the past 10 years broken down by each drug involved. [2418]
§ Mr. JamiesonStatistics specifically relating to these circumstances are available only for the last three financial years. Separate figures for refusals and revocations are not available, but total figures are as follows:
Number 1998–99 285 1999–2000 354 2000–01 464 No separate figures for each drug type are available.