HC Deb 15 December 1987 vol 124 cc455-6W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what purpose the money paid in fines by members of the armed forces is used.

Mr. Freeman

The money is appropriated in aid of defence Votes.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to the answer of 9 July, he will give for the 81 fines imposed by courts martial for 1985 and for the 46 fines imposed in 1986, the amount of the smallest, the largest and the median fine imposed for each category of offence.

Mr. Freeman

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and effort.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will carry out a sample survey in order to estimate for(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Marines the annual number of fines summarily imposed by commanding officers; and if he will categorise the fines according to the nature of the offence and whether the fine falls into one of the following categories: (i) up to £100, (ii) £101 to £250, (iii) £250 to £500 and (iv) over £500.

Mr. Freeman

The number of summary awards in 1986 for which a fine was the most serious punishment, together with the category of offence involved, are already known. Details are as follows:

Numbers
Army
Total 1,889
Offences against person (excluding sexual) 76
Sexual offences 0
Drug offences 1
Offences against property 102
Desertion and AWOL 175
Drunkenness 196
Other offences against discipline 1,264
Other offences 75
Royal Air Force
Total 2,706
Disloyalty/Security offences 23
Violence 165
Sexual offences 4
Drug offences 3
Criminal damage/negligent damage 139
Theft 74
Fraud 144
Desertion/AWOL 84
Drunkenness 222
Disciplinary 1,317
Driving and motor vehicle offences 509
Other offences 22
Royal Marines
Total 622
Disloyalty/security offences 3
Violence 28
Sexual offences
Drug offences
Criminal damage/negligent damage 52

Numbers
Theft 5
Fraud 5
Desertion/AWOL 42
Drunkenness 21
Disciplinary 414
Driving and motor vehicle offences 22
Other offences 30

Categorisation by size of fine could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

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