Mr. ArthurLewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that approximately £5 million of fines have not been paid and that some of these have been outstanding for years; and whether he will give full details showing to what extent these fines have accumulated over the years, and what steps he is taking to see that these penalties are enforced in accordance with the law.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe figures to which my hon. Friend refers include fines, the time for payment of which has not expired. In 1969 receipts from fines in England and Wales totalled over £15 million and in the financial year 1968–69 about £250,000 was written off as irrecoverable. It is for the courts to enforce the payment of fines.