PRISON SENTENCES FOR DRUNK DRIVERS

Early day motion 1527, tabled 1 July 2002 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 35 members.

That this House deplores the decision of the Court of Appeal to reduce from 15 years to 10 years the prison sentence imposed on drunk driver Peter Noble who killed six people in a road crash after drinking 13 pints of lager; considers that this is yet another example where the judiciary regard deaths on the road as less important than any other form of involuntary death; commends successive governments for highlighting the dangers caused by people driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; believes, however, that further and more determined action is needed; and therefore calls on the Government to introduce legislation so that those whose actions cause death on the road are dealt with as if they had killed an innocent person by any other means.

Signatures by party: Labour 20, Liberal Democrat 7, Labour/Co-operative 4, DUP 2, UUP 2.