DEVOLUTION REFORMS COULD MAKE SCOTLAND SAFER NOW

DEVOLUTION REFORMS COULD MAKE SCOTLAND SAFER NOW

SNP MSP Dave Thompson has called for the devolution of powers over drink driving immediately.

Speaking ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate on the Calman Commission report which endorsed the SNP’s long running campaign for drink driving powers to be controlled in Holyrood Mr Thompson welcomed the reversal of opposition to devolving the power and called on the UK Government to do so immediately.

Mr Thompson has regularly called for the blood alcohol limit when driving to be lowered to the EU average, reducing the amount of alcohol that can be consumed prior to driving. The campaign has been supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers for Scotland (ACPOS), the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) and the British Medical Association (BMA).

The First Minister and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill have both supported the move.

Mr Thompson said;

“The SNP has long campaigned for key controls on matters of public safety to be transferred to the Scottish Parliament.

“It is clear that the Scottish Parliament would apply controls on drink driving in a different way to England and we should be allowed to do so with immediate effect.

“With UK parties backing the recommendations of the Calman Commission there is no reason why we should not be able to go ahead and transfer the power on which all parties now agree, immediately.

“As recent legislation over slopping out compensation has shown both Parliament’s can work together speedily and effectively to introduce new legislation. There is no excuse for delaying the transfer of these powers.

“Transferring this power is about saving lives. Holyrood should have the powers to make Scotland safer – this power should be transferred now.”