HC Deb 20 January 2004 vol 416 cc1211-2W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers failed a breath test in Lancashire in each of the last five years. [148363]

Ms Blears

Information for Lancashire from 1997 to 2001 is given in the table. Data for 2002 will be available in the spring 2004.

Number of positive or refused breath tests within Lancashire police force area, 1997–2001
Positive/refused
1997 2,700
1998 1,900
1999 1,900
2000 1,600
2001 2,500

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of drivers failed a breath test during December in each year since 1997; [147925]

(2) how many breath tests were taken by drivers in each year since 1997; and how many accidents were caused by drunk drivers in each year since 1997. [147926]

Ms Blears

Information for England and Wales is given in the tables.

Table A—Screening breath tests and the number and percentage of positive or refused within the month of December, 1997–20011—England and Wales
Total tests Positive/refused Percentage positive/refused
1997 142,900 9,100 6
1998 142,500 8,100 6
1999 120,300 8,900 7
2000 107,600 8,900 8
2001 99,100 9,000 9
1Figures for 2002 are not available.

Source:

Home Office

Table B—Number of screening breath tests, 1997–2001 1—England and Wales
Total number of breath tests
1997 800,300
1998 815,500
1999 764,500
2000 714,800
2001 623,900
1Figures for 2002 are not available.

Source:

Home Office

Table C—Accidents in which at least one driver provided a positive breath test or refused, 1997–2002—England and Wales
Accident severity
Total number of accidents Fatal Serious Slight
1997 7,309 131 1,609 5,569
1998 6,916 111 1,419 5,386
1999 6,982 88 1,319 5,575
2000 7,391 98 1,370 5,923
2001 7,534 98 1,433 6,003
2002 7,555 91 1,395 6,069

Source:

Department of Transport