§ Mr. Gregory CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motorists have been prosecuted since the introduction of the legislation on the use of mobile phones in Northern Ireland. [169759]
§ Mr. PearsonThe Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 came into operation on 1 February 2004 and I am advised that during that month the PSNI gave advice and warnings to motorists that committed an offence. I understand that the PSNI have issued 835 fixed penalty notices from 1 March 2004 in respect of contraventions. Statistics on the number of prosecutions in respect of hand-held mobile telephones a:re not yet available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.