§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will respond to the Association of Directors of Social Work document on fine defaulters.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonWe shall consider what, if any, action to take on the recommendations contained150W in the report of the Association of Directors of Social Work on fine defaulters once we have the results of the current study of the effectiveness of the 15 fines officers appointed to work in the sheriff courts.
We expect the results of the study to be available in the spring of this year.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to reduce the number of fine defaulters in prison.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe imposition of imprisonment in case of fine default is a matter for the courts. The Government have created 15 posts of fine officers in the sheriff courts and a research study is in progress into the effectiveness of fines officers in reducing the number of fine defaulters sent to prison.