APPENDIX 2
Minutes of Proceedings of Sub-Committee
B
deliberating on the Draft Report on Blood Alcohol Levels for
Drivers
THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 1998
Present:
| L. Berkeley |
L. Marsh |
| B. Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde
| L. Methuen |
| L. Geddes
| L. Paul |
| L. Haslam
| L. Skelmersdale
|
| L. Howell of Guildford
| L. Thomas of Macclesfield
|
The Lord Geddes in the Chair.
The Sub-Committee deliberated on Parts
1 and 3 of the Chairman's draft report. Amendments were made.
THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 1998
Present:
| L. Berkeley |
L. Marsh |
| B. Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde
| L. Methuen |
| L. Geddes
| L. Paul |
| L. Haslam
| L. Skelmersdale
|
| L. Howell of Guildford
| L. Thomas of Macclesfield
|
The Lord Geddes in the Chair.
The Sub-Committee deliberated on the
Chairman's draft report. Amendments were made.
THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY 1998
Present:
| L. Berkeley |
L. Marsh |
| B. Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde
| L. Methuen |
| L. Geddes
| L. Paul |
| L. Haslam
| L. Skelmersdale
|
| L. Howell of Guildford
| L. Thomas of Macclesfield
|
The Lord Geddes in the Chair.
The Sub-Committee deliberated on the
Chairman's draft report. Amendments were made.
It was moved by the Lord Marsh to leave
out paragraph 114 and to insert:
While reducing the permitted levels
for drivers might have a psychological effect as part of a package
of measures, this gain would, in our opinion, only be secured
at a disproportionate cost in terms of diversion of police resources.
Larger benefits in terms of lives saved might well be won by concentrating
police time and manpower elsewhere in the road safety field. Furthermore,
we hold it as self-evident that the best and most effective laws
are those which receive widespread public acceptance and co-operation.
We note that with present legal limits the UK has one of the best
records in Europe in minimising alcohol related accidents. Whilst
there could be a theoretical case for reducing the BAC limit to
an effective zero level, thereby reinforcing the message "None
for the Road", we consider that any move, at the moment,
from 80mg/100ml could be counterproductive. We are, therefore,
of the opinion that the BAC limit in the United Kingdom should
remain at 80mg/100ml.
Objected to; on Question?
| Contents
| Not Contents
|
| |
| L. Howell of Guildford
| L. Berkeley |
| L. Marsh
| B. Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde
|
| L. Haslam
|
| L. Methuen
|
| L. Paul
|
| L. Skelmersdale
|
| L. Thomas of Macclesfield
|
The amendment was disagreed to accordingly.
It was moved by the Lord Marsh to leave
out paragraph 116 and to insert:
The Committee agrees that the Community
has competence to legislate on drink drive limits. We also agree
with the Government that there is a real subsidiarity issue. Our
opinion that the BAC limit in the United Kingdom should remain
at 80mg/100ml has been reached on the basis of the merits of the
proposal for the United Kingdom. We consider that setting the
permitted BAC level for drivers is a matter for Members State
governments. We do not, therefore, support European Community
action to harmonise the permitted BAC for drivers.
Objected to; on Question?
| Contents
| Not Contents
|
| |
| L. Howell of Guildford
| L. Berkeley |
| L. Marsh
| B. Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde
|
| L. Haslam
|
| L. Methuen
|
| L. Paul
|
| L. Skelmersdale
|
| L. Thomas of Macclesfield
|
The amendment was disagreed to accordingly.
The Sub-Committee agreed to the draft
report as amended.
| 
