NORTHERN IRELAND EXPOSES LONDON FOOT DRAGGING ON DRINK DRIVE LIMIT

NORTHERN IRELAND EXPOSES LONDON FOOT DRAGGING ON DRINK DRIVE LIMIT

IRISH CHANGES WILL LEAVE UK LAGGING BEHIND EUROPE

A decision to change the drink drive limit in Northern Ireland has exposed delays by the UK government in either changing the limit or granting the Scottish Parliament the powers to bring Scotland's drink drive limit down.

The decision highlights the roadblock to reform presented by Labour and Jim Murphy in Scotland and the delay in implementing the Calman proposals.

SNP Highlands and Islands MSP David Thompson is urging the UK Government to follow suit or hand the powers to Holyrood as soon as possible so it can implement the changes.

Mr Thompson has campaigned for over two years for the drink driving limit to be lowered to 50mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood from the present 80mg. He has today written to the UK Transport Minister highlighting the decision to bring the limit in Northern Ireland down to a level lower than the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland's application of mandatory breath testing at crash scenes as examples the UK should follow. The Calman Commission proposed allowing the Scottish Parliament to control the drink driving limit - but despite the Scottish government preparing the orders, the UK Government has so far refused to implement them.

Northern Ireland's limit will be cut to 50mg from 2010 with the Republic of Ireland also planning to cut the limit by the end of 2009. This would leave only the UK and Malta within the EU with a higher drink drive limit.

In his letter Mr Thompson calls for:

* The transfer of powers to the Scottish Parliament for legislation over drink driving

* Or the immediate reduction of the drink drive limit to 50 mg/ 100 ml as in Northern Ireland

* Compulsory breath tests for anyone involved in a crash

Commenting Mr Thompson said:

"Reducing the drink driving limit will save lives. For example the European Transport Safety Council has shown that reducing the limit in Switzerland led to a 44% reduction in alcohol related road deaths.

"The UK Government has claimed in the past that Scotland's limit could not be changed because it would be wrong to have different limits in different parts of the UK. That argument has been blown out of the water by Northern Ireland's decision.

"The UK government's position on changing the limit in Scotland and in England has been exposed by the decision to bring Northern Ireland's limit down.

"UK Labour are blocking reform, blocking the Calman Commission and blocking key powers that could save lives.

"In his letter to me the UK minister Paul Clark said they were getting around to responding to last year's consultation at the end of THIS year and including it in their POST-2010 strategy.

"However with Ireland just deciding to reduce the limit and bringing it into effect at the beginning of 2010 the UK is looking like it is delaying the process and wasting time for the sake of it.

"How can they possibly keep to a position that a driver can be considered safe to drive in Scotland, England or Wales, when in Northern Ireland they will be considered a danger to themselves and others?

"If it is right for Northern Ireland, right for the Republic of Ireland and right for the rest of the EU there is no good reason for keeping the drink driving limit in the UK at a higher level.

"If the UK government won't do it they should pass the powers to Holyrood as soon as possible. Saving lives is too important for parties to play political games.

"Police, medical organisations, the European Union and the WHO all want to see the limit cut and enforcement improved. If the UK government won't do it for Great Britain then they should at least let Scotland to have the responsibilities to do it instead."