§ 62. Mr. Parkerasked the Home Secretary whether it is customary for any reduction in the period of committal to prison for refusal or inability to pay a fine to be made if it becomes impossible for the person convicted to keep up regular payments after paying off a substantial part of the fine?
§ Sir S. HoareThe Money Payments (Justices Procedure) Act, 1935, provides that when a fine is imposed and time is allowed for payment, the court—save in exceptional circumstances—shall not on that occasion impose a term of imprisonment in default. If a person after paying a portion of the fine fails to pay the remainder, the procedure is that he is then brought before the court for inquiry as to his means, and if at this stage the court decides to commit him to prison, the term of imprisonment imposed would be in respect of the unpaid balance of the fine.