§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) men and (b) women were imprisoned because of their failure to pay fines levied by the courts in the last year for which figures are available, and in each of the past 15 years. [26191]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe subject of this question related to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 7 June 1995:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of individuals imprisoned because of their failure to pay fines levied by the courts.Information on the number of individuals imprisoned because of their failure to pay fines is not available. The table below shows the number of fine default receptions in 1994 and the preceding fifteen years. Receptions do not equate to "persons received". For example, where several fine default sentences are imposed on an individual by one court in one day this is counted as one reception. Where fine default sentences are imposed on a person by two or more courts in one day, however, two receptions are recorded. In addition, if a fine default warrant is received for an individual already serving a custodial sentence then this is regarded as a separate reception.
Year Male Female Total 1979 5,737 290 6,027 1980 7,047 342 7,389 1981 6,444 311 6,755 1982 9,030 422 9,452 1983 8,772 557 9,329 1984 8,431 452 8,883 1985 10,829 735 11,564 1986 9,969 657 10,626 1987 10,365 618 10,983 1988 9,170 544 9,714 1989 8,644 510 9,154 1990 6,455 380 6,835 1991 7,295 614 7,909 1992 7,792 547 8,339 1993 8,878 738 9,616 1994' 8,174 701 8,875 1 Information for 1994 is provisional.