§ The SpeakerI have to inform the House that I have received a letter dated 23 September 1987 from the resident magistrate in the petty sessions district of Belfast in which he informed me that the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Robinson) appeared before him on 22 September 1987 and was convicted of an offence under the Vehicles (Excise) Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, and was fined the sum of £25 and ordered to pay arrears of vehicle duty amounting to £25 and costs of £3.
The letter concludes as follows:
On being asked if he wished to have time for payment he did not ask for time.He was ordered to be committed to prison forthwith, for a period of fourteen days unless the said sum be sooner paid, and not having paid that sum was lodged in prison the same day.I shall cause the text of the letter to be printed at the appropriate place in the Votes and Proceedings.