58. Captain CAZALETasked the Home Secretary what was the approximate total amount of expenditure incurred during 1930, both in administrative costs and in maintenance, of persons committed to prison in default of payment of Income Tax, rates and taxes, civil debts and maintenance and bastardy orders?
Mr. STANLEYThe approximate charge on the Prison Vote during 1930 in respect of this class of prisoner is estimated at £38,480.
59. Captain CAZALETasked the Home Secretary how many persons were committed to prison in 1930 in default of payment of fines; what was the total amount of fines involved in these cases; and what was the approximate cost of their imprisonment?
Mr. STANLEYThe number of persons committed to prison in default of payment of fines in 1930 was 12,497; and the approximate charge on the Prison Vote during that year in respect of this class of prisoner is estimated at £19,370. The information required by the second part of the question could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.
Captain CAZALETDoes my hon. Friend contemplate taking any measures by which this expenditure by the State might be decreased?
Mr. STANLEYWe are always thinking of any ways of decreasing the expenditure of the State, and we lose no opportunity of reducing the cost per day per head of prisoners.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the Under-Secretary satisfied that such prisoners as are convicted are given ample time to pay by instalments when they cannot pay a full fine at once?