§ 59. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will examine the amounts of all fines imposed by statute, in the light of the fall in the value of money and of changed considerations about the relative seriousness of offences.
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothThe question whether the maximum penalty for a particular offence should be changed is always considered if the relevant statute is being amended, but my right hon. and learned Friend is not satisfied that there are any sufficient grounds for undertaking a general review of all the existing statutory provisions which empower the imposition of fines. Courts are required to take into account the means of an offender when fixing the amount of a fine to be imposed within the limits prescribed by the law, and my right hon. and learned Friend has no information to suggest that the courts generally regard those limits as inadequate and are thereby deprived of the opportunity of awarding condign punishment by this method of treatment.