Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Neville-Jones (Conservative) on Monday, 20 December 2010.

Police: Funding

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to provide more funding and equipment to assist police in catching drivers under the influence of drugs.

Answer: We are working with police to facilitate access to devices to test whether a suspected drug driver has in his body a drug that might be causing impairment. The legislation authorises the police to require someone to take such a test, but only when using a drug screening device of a type approved by the Secretary of State. Type approval is granted on the basis of compliance with a specification which sets out the detailed requirements a device has to meet and the testing regime through which it has to pass. We expect to issue such a specification shortly for use in a police station, and are continuing work toward the specification for a roadside device. Once the specification is issued, it will be for manufacturers to present devices for approval. It will be for police forces to decide whether or not the purchase of any particular equipment would represent the best use of their resources.

Secondary information