§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the operation of Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972; and, in view of the fact that courts might be more willing to make compensation orders in lieu of custodial sentences, if such orders could be backed up by a prison sentence in default, whether he will consider seeking to amend Section 1 along such lines.
§ Mr. CarlisleUnder existing law magistrates' courts have power to commit an offender to prison in default of payment of a compensation order; and the Crown court has power in all cases to specify when making the order the maximum period of imprisonment which may be imposed in default. In this and other respects my right hon. Friend has no ground for dissatisfaction with the provisions of Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972, which came into effect only on 1st January, and sees no need to amend the law.