§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been imprisoned for failing to wear a crash helmet for any stated period of time.
§ Mr. MayhewThe maximum penalty under the Motor Cycle (Wearing of Helmets) Regulations 1973 for driving or riding on a motorcycle without wearing protective headgear is a fine of £50 and so a sentence of immediate imprisonment cannot be imposed under those regulations. The number of persons received into prison department establishments in default of payment of a fine imposed for such offences cannot be separately identified. Information on sentences given is published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales"—table 4, page 17 of the supplementary tables to the publication for 1980—a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.