Let Scotland cut drink-drive limit, MSP urges

Mr Thompson has been championing the issue for two years

UK ministers have come under fresh pressure to allow a lower drink-driving alcohol limit in Scotland.

Highlands and Islands MSP David Thompson wants the limit cut from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

The SNP backbencher says the UK Government is dragging its feet by not giving Holyrood the power to act.

Giving MSPs the ability to alter the limit was recommended in the Calman report on devolution, which Labour ministers are considering.

Mr Thompson, who has been campaigning on the issue for two years, has now written to the UK Transport Minister highlighting recent talks to lower the limit in Northern Ireland and the Republic.

He said: "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 World Health Organisation 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."

Mr Thompson says the UK has one of Europe's higher drink drive limits

Northern Ireland Environment Minister Edwin Poots supports calls to reduce the limit to 50mg for most drivers and to 20mg for novice and professional drivers.

Road traffic and transport legislation is already devolved to Belfast.

Proposals have also been put forward for similar cuts to the limit in Ireland.

This would leave only the UK and Malta within the EU with a higher drink-drive limit, Mr Thompson argues.

A spokesman for the UK Government's Scotland Office said: "Devolving the drink-driving limit was only one of the many recommendations contained in the final report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution.

"The UK Government is poised to issue a White Paper detailing its response imminently.

"The Scottish Government has been absent from the entire Calman process from inception to the present and has resolutely failed to engage in the review of devolution. The notion the UK Government is blocking the Calman process is self-evidently wrong in every respect."