Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 November 2005. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 December 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Drug Testing (Drivers)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) unit cost per test and (b) cost of the necessary equipment for testing for drugs while driving is using the latest methods of testing saliva; whether he plans to make these tests available for roadside testing; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 amends the Road Traffic Act 1988 to authorise the police to conduct compulsory roadside test for impairment and for the presence of drugs. Any equipment used to test for drugs by testing a specimen of sweat or saliva must be of a type approved by the Secretary of State. Since there is as yet no such equipment, tests cannot at present be conducted. It is therefore not possible to give the unit cost per test or the cost of the equipment necessary to conduct the test.A detailed device specification is currently in preparation. We hope this will be available in early 2006. Manufacturers will then be able to submit to the rigorous type approval process any device they have developed which complies with the specification.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 440 c2891-2W; 28590
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Drug Testing/Treatment Programmes
Monday, 13 February 2006
Written questions
House of Commons
Registered interest declared: Yes
Subjects: Costs Driving under influence Screening
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk