Fine Defaulters (Hansard, 21 March 1996)

§ Mrs. Anne Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of sentence of a fine defaulter. [21114]

§ Miss Widdecombe
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Anne Campbell, dated 21 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, what is the average length of sentence of a fine defaulter.
The average custody period imposed on prisoners received in 1995 for non-payment of a fine was about 17 days.

§ Mr. Steinberg
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently in prison for(a) non-payment of fines, (b) non-payment of the community charge and (c) non-payment of council tax. [21244]

§ Miss Widdecombe
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 21 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many people are currently in prison for (a) non-payment of fines, (b) non-payment of the community charge and (c) non-payment of council tax.
The latest available information is for 31 January 1996. On that date there were 358 persons in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for non-payment of a fine and 42 for non-payment of community charge. No persons were recorded as being in custody for non-payment of council tax.