Cross-border political row over new lower drink-driving limit A cross-border row has emerged in the middle of the festive drink-driving crackdown over the timescale for cutting the legal alcohol limit in Scotland to less than a pint of lager. The SNP says the Scottish Government's pledge to cut the alcohol limit by over a third to 50mg per 100ml of blood is being "held back by Westminster delays," but the Home Office insists it is "not responsible for any delay." Scotland was handed the power to set drink-driving limits in the Scotland Act 2012, but the power to recalibrate the breathalysers remains with Westminster. Cross-border discussions are under way to ensure breathalysers are configured to enforce the new limit. The Home Office is also working on new "drugalysers" to test drivers for drug use, and the SNP says this is causing "uncertainty" over when the Scottish breathalysers will be ready. The Home Office says work on the new devices is progressing "concurrently," but the SNP claims the ongoing discussions underline the case for independence so Scotland can "act immediately for the will of the people of Scotland, no longer held back by the Westminster system." The SNP has called for the immediate devolution of all drink-driving legislation to Scotland. SNP MSP Christian Allard said: "Now we are well into the festive period and Police Scotland is continuing its good work with is drink-drive clampdown, it is the perfect time for Westminster to fully devolve all matters concerning drink-driving to Scotland. Lowering the limit to 50mg will make it illegal to drive after consuming less than a pint of lager, saving around 17 lives a year on our roads. Scotland already has the powers over the drink-drive limit and now is the time for Westminster to hand over the rest of the powers to deal with this problem. Unless Westminster acts immediately, it only strengthens the case for a Yes vote. Independence will allow a Scottish Government to act immediately for the will of the people of Scotland, no longer held back by the Westminster system. An SNP press release added: "While the Scottish Government has the power to set its drink-drive limits, the powers to ensure the breath test equipment used by police are still reserved to Westminster. Currently, Home Office experts are working on producing 'drugalysers' for use on motorists south of the border - causing uncertainty when the new recalibrated drink-drive testing equipment will be ready. A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Our work on roadside drug testing devices is not responsible for any delay to the Scottish Government's plans to reduce the country's drink-drive limit. Our advisers are in continuing discussions with Scottish colleagues to ensure devices used to enforce any new limit in Scotland are suitable for that purpose. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The only power we have around drink-driving is the power to set the limit, which came through the Scotland Act. We don't have the power to set penalties, or authorise breath tests anytime and anywhere, which is another thing we have called for. We have announced that, as a result of an overwhelmingly positive response to the consultation, we will reduce the limit from 80mg to 50mg. That is going to happen. But the power of the recalibration of equipment still lies with Westminster, and the timetable of when this comes into force is in their hands not Scottish Government hands. The Westminster Government have committed to it and they are working with our officials for it to happen, but we have no control over the timescale because it is their lead.