§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what amount of fines imposed by magistrates courts is currently outstanding; and what plans he has to allow magistrates courts to charge interest on outstanding fines; [2561]
612W(2) what is the percentage of fines transferred to magistrates courts by Crown court for collection which are outstanding. [2556]
§ Mr. StreeterSeparate figures for outstanding fines imposed by the Crown court and magistrates courts are not available. However, from returns made to my Department by magistrates courts I can say that the total outstanding in respect of fines imposed by the Crown court and magistrates courts was about £239 million at the end of the June quarter this year. I have no plans to allow magistrates courts to charge interest on outstanding fines.