HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 cc613-4W
Mr. Sweeney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) of those fine defaulters who have received a custodial sentence in the last year for which figures are available, what is the average sentence(a) imposed and (b) served; [39703]

(2) what percentage of the average prison population in the last year for which figures are available has consisted of fine defaulters. [39701]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from David Scott to Mr. Walter Sweeney, dated 24 July 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about fine defaulters. I will write to you with a full reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Sweeney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce community service orders and combination orders as alternatives to custody for fine defaulters. [39702]

Mr. Maclean

Together with the Lord Chancellor, my right hon. and learned Friend and I are reviewing the powers and procedures available to the courts to ensure that they can enforce payment of fines without restoring to imprisonment save in the most exceptional of circumstances. Alternative options for fine enforcement under consideration include the possibility of a community-based penalty instead of imprisonment for fine default.