To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to make the offence of driving while disqualified a matter for the Crown courts. (60434)

The offence of driving while disqualified is a summary only offence and carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or a level five fine (£5,000) and six penalty points. The Government have no plans to increase the maximum penalty or to change the summary trial process to an indictable one for this offence. Most bad driving offences are triable summarily, and it is only the more serious offences, with higher maximum penalties (such as causing death by dangerous driving and causing death when under the influence of drink or drugs) that are triable on indictment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving in each (a) London borough and (b) constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (82983)

Data from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform showing the number of defendants found guilty at the Crown Court of causing death by dangerous driving in Greater London, broken down by committing court is shown in the table. The courts’ data enable boroughs to be separately identified in outer London, but not in inner London. We are unable to provide convictions for each London constituency, as the data are not available at the level of detail required. Figures for 2005 will be available in the autumn of 2006.