§ 4. Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fine defaulters are currently in prison; and what is the average term served in respect of fine default.
§ Mr. WaddingtonAbout 900 fine defaulters were in custody on 31 July 1983, the latest date for which information is available. The average time served by fine defaulters discharged in 1982 was about 14 days. Fine defaulters accounted for about 24,500 receptions in that year.
§ Mr. CarlileDo the Government agree that this is an unnecessary and expensive use of imprisonment? If so, what alternatives will be introduced to replace the imprisonment of fine defaulters?
§ Mr. WaddingtonWe certainly agree that it is an unhappy state of affairs that so much time is taken up by the reception of fine defaulters.
Plainly, we must assist magistrates' courts in their duty to have regard to offenders' means when setting the level of fines. An experiment is in hand into the use of pre-trial means inquiry reports. We are examining the possibility of allowing courts to impose community service orders on fine defaulters. Consideration is also being given to the day-fine system.
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkDoes the hon. and learned Gentleman accept that while fine defaulters represent only 3 per cent. of the average daily prison population, they nevertheless constitute one quarter of all receptions and therefore impose considerable burdens on the already over-burdened local prisons? As much of that is due to variations in enforcement practice by the courts, would it not be sensible for him to circulate courts asking them to state why every alternative enforcement measure cannot be used, before they impose a prison sentence?
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe figures quoted by the hon. Gentleman are, of course, entirely correct. They reveal a serious state of affairs. I assure the hon. Gentleman that all these matters are under review.